Hekmatyar confirms contacts with Taliban group

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: The leader of Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin Hekmatyar confirmed contacts with the Taliban group in a bid to encourage the group to participate in peace talks.

Hekmatyar informed regarding his party’s contact with the Taliban as he was speaking during a press conference in Kabl Thursday.

He said the Hezb-e-Islami strongly supports peace process and will stand with those who are willing to join peace process. However, he did not say if any developments have been made in his efforts to encourage the group to participate in peace talks.

In other parts of his speech, Hekmatyar urged the political figures and parties to participate in talks in a bid to find a solution for the ongoing violence and crisis.

The Hezb-e-Islami leader further added that the political parties should adopt the strategy of political rivalry rather encouraging armed rivlaries. According to Hekmatyar, his party is not supporting the repeat of the bitter past experiences and the political figures must refrain from provocative remarks.

He also added that certain individuals and circles are attempting to spark religious discrimination and chaos among the people. Hekmataryar also added that he will prevent the collapse of the current regime and any attempts to bring changes in it, insisting that any changes should be brought through legal ways and with the consent of all parties involved.