The former king returns to a country that is, in these early months of a post-Taliban interim government, wracked by instability.
Delegates from the four Afghan factions here began intensive negotiations today over the shape of an interim post-Taliban government.
To be effective, a post-Taliban government will need a third element: tribal leaders from the Kandahar region.
But a post-Taliban government or an international force is weeks away from being formed.
By refusing to insist on the return to these freedoms in a post-Taliban government, the Bush administration will not avoid imposing its values.
As the fighting continued, so did talks in Germany on the shape of a post-Taliban government.
The alliance has failed to choose the 60 delegates it will send to a long-delayed meeting on forming a post-Taliban government.
The creation of a post-Taliban government is becoming increasingly urgent, since a final military push against the Taliban would leave a power vacuum.
Little in the resolution appeared to advance by much the process of agreeing on the mechanics of a post-Taliban government.
He later traveled to Kabul to cover the establishment of the post-Taliban government.