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Have talks with Hezb e Islami hit a dead end?

Following the appointment of new faces in the High Peace Council and the government of national unity’s requesting armed opponents to join the peace process,

Have talks with Hezb e Islami hit a dead end?

Following the appointment of new faces in the High Peace Council and the government of national unity’s requesting armed opponents to join the peace process, the Hezb e Islami led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar sent a delegation to Kabul to start talks.

The meetings continued for weeks, and in the end both sides agreed on a 25-point agreement. Thereafter Hezb e Islami representatives took the agreement to Hekmatyar for review.

After weeks of silence, reports have trickled in that the Hezb have proposed three new conditions for continuation of the peace talks.

Observers think any new condition could prove to be an obstacle and scuttle the talks.

Tawab Ghorzang, spokesperson for the Afghan National Security Council, however, has denied the talks are in trouble. No new conditions have been proposed, and talks with the Hezb e Islami are continuing normally, he claimed.

But the office of the chief executive has contradicted the NSC. It has confirmed there are new suggestions from the Hezb, and the truth cannot be concealed.

Amir Misam, a deputy spokesperson to the chief executive told Killid, “The Hezb e Islami has proposed new suggestions for continuation of peace talks but the 25 articles are valid for the government and High Peace Council.”

He said the door for talks with the Hezb e Islami was open.

Meanwhile, Ataul Rahman Saleem, a deputy in the High Peace Council and member of the team that negotiated with Hezb said the 25-point pact was final.

He reasons that Hekmatyar was well acquainted with all the points under discussion. Still he has asked for additions to the agreement: the government should specify a date for the exit of foreign forces; state the role of the Hezb in the government; and also in the election commission. The Hezb e Islami insists these three fresh points must be included in the agreement with the government.

The Hezb has not made any announcements to the media about the new preconditions. Neither has the High Peace Council. Farhad Azimi, Member of Parliament (MP), fears political forces inside the government, which are against the peace process, could be trying to derail the talks.