Hizb-e-Islami fighters asked to stop targeting Afghan forces

Instruction comes amid deadlock in talks between Kabul and the group


Tahir Khan July 04, 2016
Instruction comes amid deadlock in talks between Kabul and the group. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: Days ahead of Eidul Fitr, Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan’s chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar ordered his fighters to spare Afghan security personnel and only act against them if provoked.

“We are not in favour of fighting with Afghan security forces. We have instructed our Mujahideen to avoid attacks on Afghan forces, and respond only if they come under attack,” he said in his Eid message.

Dialogues with Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan in jeopardy as talks fail with Taliban

Hekmatyar’s comments came amid a deadlock between HIA and Kabul over the fate of coalition forces and the security pact President Ashraf Ghani’s government signed in September 2014.

HIA says Kabul wants its negotiators to accept the bilateral security agreement as the rulers consider it a ‘red line’.

“All should accept the reality that peace and security could only be ensured when foreign troops quit, foreign intervention in Afghanistan’s internal affairs has ended, Afghans are allowed to solve problems on their own, decide a system and choose trusted leaders,” Hekmatyar said.

Hizb-e-Islami to join Afghan peace talks

“We should agree that only the Afghan Muslim nation has the right to elect leadership and introduce a system, and to stop the people from reaching the corridors of powers with the help of arms and money from abroad,” he added.

Referring to peace talks between HIA and the government, he urged Ghani not to miss the opportunity for bringing an end to the war and restoring peace. He also called upon President Obama “not to accept the suggestions of warmongers who insist on a longer stay of American troops and a continuation of the war.”

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2016.

COMMENTS (1)

Vaidyanathan | 7 years ago | Reply Peace is a must. Poorest of Afghanistan should benefit. Taliban should realise that democracy is the best alternative.
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