Saturday, April 30, 2017
Kabul (BNA) The Hezb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) leader addressing a gathering asked Taliban to join peace process and give up war and militancy in the country, BNA reported.
According to the agency, Gulbadin Hekmatyar, addressing a gathering marking the 25th Mujahidin Victory Day in Mehtarlam city, the capital of Laghman province said 1.5 million Afghans had been killed, six million maimed and their homes destroyed during the Soviet occupation of the country, but the occupationist forces, despite unleashing terror and torture, failed to subjugate the valiant Afghans.
He hoped the historic peace deal between the government and HIA should be implemented in letter and spirit.
“We created HIA for a political struggle. We have pledged to work for peace and stability as diligently as few ought for the liberation of our motherland.”
Fighting which was against the interest of Afghans, who were killed and wounded, the HIA chief said, urging the Taliban to drop violence for reconciliation. He called for a peaceful struggle to achieve goals. He also called upon Taliban that cannot rule Afghanistan by force.
A strong central government could better safeguard the core national interest, Hekmatyar believed, rejecting the distribution of powers on the basis of compromise and deals, BNA added.
Afghan government and HIA inked a historic peace deal in September last year, paving the way for Hekmatyar to step out of the shadows. He spent almost two decades in exile.
According to peace deal, among 500 detainees of the group, around 68 would be freed and he is expected to arrive Kabul and hold talks with Afghan officials in the coming days.
