Poets, writers and cultural figures at a special ceremony on Friday paid homage to the famed Afghan writer and poet Qahar Asi and his work.

Asi is mostly known for his epic works.

Asi was killed 26 years ago when a mortar round hit his house in Kabul during the 90s civil war.

He was only 38 years old at the time of his death.

Famous Afghan pop singer Farhad Darya has sung many of his poems. Overall, Asi wrote six books about love and freedom.

“Asi’s poems reflect the pain of the people and the pain of migration,” said Saeeda Mozhgan Mustafavi, the deputy Minister of Information and Culture.

Asi was a native of Panjshir province in northern Afghanistan.

“Asi is one of the famous poets in the world of Persian literature. He is unique among the Persian poets,” said Amin Sediqqi, the deputy governor of Panjshir.

Qahar Asi is respected as a major poet of Afghanistan. Asi was inspired by the work of Afghan poets Haidari Wujodi and Wasif Bakhtari.

Asi has one daughter named Mahasti.

Mahasti was only 15 months old at the time of Asi’s death.