NEW DELHI, 6 April 2007 — India yesterday named a road in the capital city after the Afghan war hero, Ahmad Shah Masood, also known as Lion of Panjshir and Martyred Commander (Amer Sahib-e-Shaheed).
The road near Afghanistan Embassy in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri, a crossroad between Niti Marg and Shantipath, will now be known as Ahmad Shad Masood Marg (road).
At a function held here, the visiting Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Indian External Affairs Minster Pranab Mukherjee unveiled the dedication. It is the first time that an Afghan leader has been honored by India.
Appreciating this gesture, Karzai said: “Afghanistan is honored to have him as a hero. Afghanistan is honored to have the road here, in a very important part of Delhi, named after him. We are very, very grateful to you.”
Karzai named Masood as the “National Hero” on the first anniversary of his death. Describing Masood as a friend, Karzai recalled his role in the struggle against “Al-Qaeda, interference from neighbors and rule of terror in Afghanistan.”
“This road is not just another path in the city of Delhi, it is the symbol of ties that bind India and Afghanistan and I am confident that it will pave the way for even stronger ties between our two countries,” Mukherjee said.
Masood was a visionary and a friend of India, who understood the threat of “globalization of terror” and fought, dreamt and prayed all his life for a free Afghanistan, which is a reality today, Mukherjee said. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit was also present at the function. Karzai was here to attend the two-day 14th SAARC Summit, which concluded on Wednesday.
