Sporting a black quiff and sideburns, Ahmad Zahir sang of love and heartbreak in liberal 1970s Kabul — a city now plagued by war and suffering, but where the popularity of Afghanistan's "Elvis" ...

Ahmad Zahir, who reigned as the king of Afghan music, died under mysterious circumstances in 1979 as his country was descending into war. Accessibility statement Skip to main content.

“Ahmad Zahir’s music is different. His songs and lyrics have significance,” she told RFERL’s Gandhara website. “These days, some of the songs [by new singers] are not listenable.” Hussam is a ...