KABUL - Late Vice-President Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim was laid to rest in the Deh-i-Kipak area of the capital Kabul on Tuesday, as tens of thousands of mourners turned out to pay their last respects.

The Marshal was accorded a 21-gun salute as a last sign of honour and respect before the charismatic vice-president’s coffin was lowered into a burial plot.

Earlier, the state funeral service for Qasim Fahim was held at the Presidential Palace, where President Karzai and high ranking government officials, tribal elders, family members of Fahim and foreign dignitaries were present.

Fahim died on Sunday of heart attack at his Kabul residence and the government called for three days of national mourning, during which the national flags are hoisted half-mast in Afghanistan and Afghan embassies abroad.

The former defence minister was also given a military funeral service at the Ministry of Defence, from where his body was taken in a large procession to the Presidential Palace, where the state funeral took place at around 10:45am.

After the burial ceremony, Defense Minister Gen. Bismillah Mohammadi said late Marshal Fahim was the first jihadi leader, who started a resistance against the Soviet forces from Shigal district of eastern Logar province.

Former Wolesi Jirga speaker and an old friend of Fahim, Mohammad Yunus Qanuni said Fahim’s funeral was attended by a huge number of people that showed he did not represent a single tribe, but the entire nation. He said Fahim was equally popular among the countrymen.

Qanuni called Fahim’s death a big loss, saying he struggled throughout his life promoting national unity and solidarity. (Pajhwok)