Hekmatyar optimistic Turkey huddle to yield result

KABUL (Pajhwok): Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) supreme leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar presented a temporary non-coalition government strategy and hoped all sides would agree on a political settlement to the on-going conflict in Turkey conference.

Addressing a press conference in Kabul, Hekmatyar said the Turkey Conference should stress on withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in line with the Doha Agreement and establishment of a transitional government. “All political parties have decided that power should be transferred to a new transitional government but the Presidential Palace has not yet made any announcement in this regard and its seems they have no other option.”

He accused the government delegation of an early departure from Moscow meeting, saying due to lack of patience and readiness, they left the conference the next day. The HIA leader said leaders of all parties were expected to attend the conference in Turkey and suggested that the government side headed by President Ghani should attend the meeting.

He said the government had ignored HIA demands in the Peace Agreement therefore they had decided hold rallies in Kabul and other provinces tomorrow — Friday. “In some parts of the country our armed Mujahideen would get together to show to the people and the world that they are ready to be merged in government security institutions,” he said.

He said HIA armed militia was ready to be merged in government security institutions but the government was refusing to do so due to known reasons. “We have an agreement with the government from the past three years which has the backing of US and international community but still our 3,000 prisoners are in jails in Pul-i-Charkhi, Bagram and Guantanamo Bay,” he claimed.

Earlier, a government commission dealing with HIA-Government Peace Agreement implementation said that only 74 HIA death row prisoners remained jailed. Hekmatyar said in line with HIA Peace Strategy, first fighting should come to an end and two major points —- one the withdrawal of foreign forces and second the establishment of transitional government —- should be implemented. According to HIA strategy, the High Council for National Reconciliation is the highest authority of decision making and it would monitor the activities of interim government. Leaders of political parties and stakeholders involved in the past 40 years of conflict should be part of the council.