Ready to participate in next year’s polls: Hekmatyar

KABUL (NNI): The Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan leader Gulbadin Hekmatyar said on Friday the only way to resolve the current crisis were elections and his party was ready to participate in upcoming parliamentary and district council polls.

Addressing the HIA central council’s gathering in Kabul here, Hekmatyar said the next year’s elections were important for the HIA and asked supporters to be ready for the democratic exercise.

“Going to the elections will end the conflict, strengthen peace and bring into being the government and the parliament.

Hekmatyar asked the HIA supporters to elect individuals they deemed honest, God-fearing, responsible and brave who had the will to serve the people and the country.

He also asked HIA supporters to put aside their differences and join hands against “bigger” enemies if they had the intention to keep enmity.

About a media report that quoted the HIA leader as calling the conflict in Afghanistan a clash between two tribes, Hekmatyar said he had been quoted out of context.

He also urged an end to influence of former warlords over security forces and said his party was not engaged in armed tussle with any party and had extended friendship hand to all.

Hekmatyar said his party condemned terrorist acts that led to the killing of innocent Muslims and non-Muslims.