'Petraeus overlooking Afghan reconciliation, met him thrice'

Son-in-law of Hizb-e-Islami leader says Pakistan will have to play a positive role in talks.

PESHAWAR: A senior member of Hizb-e-Islami said on Tuesday that Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director David Petraeus was “overlooking” reconciliation talks in Afghanistan and had personally met him thrice in Kabul.

Ghairat Baheer, who is the son-in-law Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, was in Peshawar to attend the ‘Afghanistan: Regional Influence & Solution’ conference called by former Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmed.

Baheer, while talking to The Express Tribune, said that the reconciliation in Afghanistan was “real” this time.

"We don’t have any demands in these talks," said Baheer. "We are seeking a package deal which includes a complete withdrawal of troops and a peaceful transition of power."

He said that Hizb-e-Islami was an accepted political party in Afghanistan, but added that “talks would have to have a broader spectrum, all factions will have to be taken on board for a complete solution.”

Baheer made it a point to mention that his party did not demand any office and had not demanded the release of prisoners either.

“I hope talks with the Taliban will be successful in Qatar, but Pakistan will have to play a positive role.”

When asked if the Hizb-e-Islami had stopped NATO troops in Afghanistan, Baheer said that he was a member of the political wing and that “the warring faction will be in a better position to comment on this.”