The former king of Afghanistan has told a delegation of U.S congressmen he is on America’s side in the fight against terrorism.

Exiled monarch Mohammad Zahir Shah also said he would back any U.S.-led force to oust the hard-line Taliban regime from Afghanistan. The U.S. delegation met Zahir at his high-security residence on the outskirts of Rome. Delegation head, Republican Congressman Curt Weldon, told reporters America was looking to the former king to play a key role marshalling anti-Taliban forces.