Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hezb-e-Islami, on Sunday announced that during a trilateral meeting with President Ashraf Ghani and former president Hamid Karzai, a number of important issues on the peace process were agreed upon; however, he added that President Ghani could not gain the support of his team.
Hekmatyar said that inter-government disputes had left the Afghan government with no clear plan for peace. “The participation of political leaders in the Istanbul meeting with a unified plan; the creation of a transitional government with a decision-making council consisting of representatives of the eight factions, including the Taliban; release of all Taliban and Hezb-e-Islami prisoners and a ceasefire, were some of the issues discussed during the meeting. Election in a jirga whose members are not appointed, but elected as a result of the election, and the establishment of the Supreme State Council, were other points of focus,” he said.
As per Hekmatyar, President Ghani agreed to announce these cases to all parties within eight days and gain their support; but that did not happen. “In order to gain a clear understanding of the Taliban’s position and to make the right decision, it was agreed to form a delegation and hold an informal meeting with the Taliban so that we understand whether the Taliban has the will for peace or war? If they have the will for peace, a high-ranking government delegation, including leaders, will attend the Istanbul meeting; but it has not happened yet,” said Hekmatyar.
However, the Hezb-e-Islami leader said that if the Afghan government failed to build internal consensus on decision-making, political parties would make another decision on peace and war in Afghanistan. “If the government can put an end to its unhealthy internal disputes and rivalries and take a reasonable stand on peace and establish a single and competent decision-making body, and accept this council as the highest decision-making body for important national issues; I will support it,” he said.
He added, however, that if the new council, like the Ministry of Peace and the High Council for Reconciliation, were ineffective and futile, nothing would be achieved. Hekmatyar said that in order to overcome the current insecure and unstable phase, agreements and measures are needed to help the citizens of Afghanistan prevent the collapse of the system and the disintegration of administrative and security-military organizations and institutions, and to ensure the peaceful and lawful transfer of power.
