Khalilullah Khalili (1907 – 1987; -
Ḫalīlallāḥ Ḫalīlī; alternative spellings:
Khalilollah,
Khalil Ullah) was
Afghanistan's foremost 20th century
poet as well as a noted historian, university professor, diplomat and royal confidant. He was the last of the great classical
Persian poets and among the first to introduce modern
Persian poetry and
Nimai style to Afghanistan. He had also expertise in
Khorasani style and was a follower of
Farrukhi Sistani. Almost alone among Afghanistan's poets, he enjoyed a following in
Iran where his selected poems have been published. His works have been praised by renowned Iranian literary figures and intellectuals. Many see him as the greatest contemporary poet of the
Persian language in Afghanistan. He is also known for his major work
"Hero of Khorasan", a controversial
biography of
Habībullāh Kalakānī,
Emir of Afghanistan in 1929.