Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, labelled a "global
terrorist" by US, issues video from hiding place
seeking inter-Afghan dialogue.
After more than 40 years at war, a former
Afghan prime minister, who has been labelled
as a "global terrorist" by the US and blacklisted
by the UN, appears to be seeking a comeback.
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, now in his late 60s, says
he wants a "real and fair peace" but with
conditions such as the withdrawal of all foreign
troops from Afghanistan and new elections in
2016.
"Peace can be established and the fighting can
end once the occupation is over, foreign forces
leave and the people of the Afghan nation are
given the right to choose their own destiny and
establish their own choice of government and
governance," Hekmatyar said.
The remarks appear to reflect an attempt by
Hekmatyar to assert influence and gain new
leverage in Afghan politics, but what role, if
any, he could play is unclear.
The comments were provided to the AP news
agency this week after being videotaped in
Hekmatyar's hiding place, said by his
associates to be in Afghanistan.
Changing allegiances
Hekmatyar switched allegiances on the
battlefield, fighting first the Soviets, for which
he received millions in cash and weaponry from
Washington, then the Taliban.
In politics, he served twice as Afghan prime
minister and saw Hezb-i-Islami, the party he
founded in 1969, eventually fracture and
abandon him.
The party's military wing offered Osama bin
Laden shelter after the al-Qaeda leader fled
Sudan in 1996, according to the US State
Department.
Hekmatyar talks of an "inter-Afghan dialogue"
that pointedly excludes neighbouring Pakistan,
which has been key mediator and host for
Taliban-Kabul peace talks.
"If America and the Kabul government want
peace, then this is the only way," Hekmatyar
says in the video, while also ridiculing
Afghanistan's government and claiming the real
"authority in Kabul is with the American
ambassador and the NATO forces commander".
"The defence ministry in Kabul is a mini-
Pentagon and the presidential palace is a mini-
White House."
'Lost credibility'
Since the withdrawal of international combat
forces at the end of last year, there are about
13,000 foreign troops, roughly 10,000 of them
American, in Afghanistan. The US and NATO
mandate is now to train and advise Afghan
security forces.
Afghan security analyst Ali Mohammad Ali says
Hekmatyar can no longer run a private army
because "most of his people have joined the
Taliban" or other fighters, including the
emerging Islamic State affiliate which has
established a presence in Hekmatyar's former
strongholds in eastern provinces bordering
Pakistan.
"The Afghan people and the Afghan government
will never accept his proposals," Ali said. "He
has lost credibility."
Hekmatyar is said to have offered himself as
interlocutor to former President Hamid Karzai in
2008, but was deflected amid concerns over his
alleged human rights abuses.
"I was, I am and I will be here in my country
when foreign forces leave," he said. "Then, with
the grace of God, you will see me in Kabul."
terrorist" by US, issues video from hiding place
seeking inter-Afghan dialogue.
After more than 40 years at war, a former
Afghan prime minister, who has been labelled
as a "global terrorist" by the US and blacklisted
by the UN, appears to be seeking a comeback.
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, now in his late 60s, says
he wants a "real and fair peace" but with
conditions such as the withdrawal of all foreign
troops from Afghanistan and new elections in
2016.
"Peace can be established and the fighting can
end once the occupation is over, foreign forces
leave and the people of the Afghan nation are
given the right to choose their own destiny and
establish their own choice of government and
governance," Hekmatyar said.
The remarks appear to reflect an attempt by
Hekmatyar to assert influence and gain new
leverage in Afghan politics, but what role, if
any, he could play is unclear.
The comments were provided to the AP news
agency this week after being videotaped in
Hekmatyar's hiding place, said by his
associates to be in Afghanistan.
Changing allegiances
Hekmatyar switched allegiances on the
battlefield, fighting first the Soviets, for which
he received millions in cash and weaponry from
Washington, then the Taliban.
In politics, he served twice as Afghan prime
minister and saw Hezb-i-Islami, the party he
founded in 1969, eventually fracture and
abandon him.
The party's military wing offered Osama bin
Laden shelter after the al-Qaeda leader fled
Sudan in 1996, according to the US State
Department.
Hekmatyar talks of an "inter-Afghan dialogue"
that pointedly excludes neighbouring Pakistan,
which has been key mediator and host for
Taliban-Kabul peace talks.
"If America and the Kabul government want
peace, then this is the only way," Hekmatyar
says in the video, while also ridiculing
Afghanistan's government and claiming the real
"authority in Kabul is with the American
ambassador and the NATO forces commander".
"The defence ministry in Kabul is a mini-
Pentagon and the presidential palace is a mini-
White House."
'Lost credibility'
Since the withdrawal of international combat
forces at the end of last year, there are about
13,000 foreign troops, roughly 10,000 of them
American, in Afghanistan. The US and NATO
mandate is now to train and advise Afghan
security forces.
Afghan security analyst Ali Mohammad Ali says
Hekmatyar can no longer run a private army
because "most of his people have joined the
Taliban" or other fighters, including the
emerging Islamic State affiliate which has
established a presence in Hekmatyar's former
strongholds in eastern provinces bordering
Pakistan.
"The Afghan people and the Afghan government
will never accept his proposals," Ali said. "He
has lost credibility."
Hekmatyar is said to have offered himself as
interlocutor to former President Hamid Karzai in
2008, but was deflected amid concerns over his
alleged human rights abuses.
"I was, I am and I will be here in my country
when foreign forces leave," he said. "Then, with
the grace of God, you will see me in Kabul."
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