Mohammad Zahir Shah was the last king of Afghanistan, reigning from 1933 until his exile in 1973. He was known for his efforts to modernize the country and promote education, infrastructure, and women's rights. His reign saw relative peace and stability, but he faced challenges from political factions and external pressures. After being overthrown in a coup, Zahir Shah lived in exile in Italy for nearly three decades. He returned to Afghanistan in 2002, after the fall of the Taliban, and played a symbolic role in the country's political transition. He passed away in 2007, leaving a legacy of a more progressive Afghanistan.