Afghan poet Wasef Bakhtari has died at age 81 in California, US, people close to him told TOLOnews.

Bakhtari was born in 1942 in Balkh province and was a prominent figure in modern Afghan poetry.

“He was one of the greatest poets of Afghanistan, whom we lost. The legacy of Professor Wasef Bakhtari includes not only esteemed poetry but works in the field of mysticism and philosophy,” said Manochri Faradis, a writer.

Bakhtari wrote more than 20 books, articles and other pieces in Dari/Farsi. He also translated many articles from English to Farsi.

“He has written many pieces in the field of poetry, literature and philosophy, which will always be valuable,” said Bawar Bamik, a poet and writer.

Bakhtari’s death faced spared reactions from Afghan leaders and cultural figures.

Former President Hamid Karzai called his death a tragedy. The former chairmen of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), Abdullah Abdullah, also reacted to Bakhtari’s death, praising his achievements in literature.  

Bakhtari earned his primary education in Balkh and entered the faculty of Farsi literature at Kabul University.

He went to the US in 1353 (solar year) for a Master 's degree.

From 1361 to 1374, he was editor-in-chief of Zhwandoon magazine.