An eye on Taleban

The peace agreement with the Hezb-e-Islami, which opens the way for Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s return to Kabul, has triggered varied reactions.

Government officials including the head of the High Peace Council have praised the pact as a step towards peace. Sayed Ahmad Gilani was quoted saying, “I hope this is the beginning of a permanent peace in our country.”

The agreement grants the elusive Hezb-e-Islami leader amnesty for crimes committed during Afghanistan’s civil war. Designated a “global terrorist” by the US for his links to al Qaeda and Taleban, it has never been certain if he was in hiding in Afghanistan or Pakistan.

Under the agreement, the government has agreed to press for the lifting of sanctions on Hekmatyar and release some Hezb-e-Islami prisoners.

Rights groups have questioned the “culture of exemption”, and urged the government to “interrogate” both Hezb-e-Islami and other groups and individuals who have had a hand in war crimes.

Public reaction to Hekmatyar’s return to the centre-stage has been cautious. Political observers ascribe this to “tiredness of people to war and violence”. Musa Fareewar, a lecturer at Kabul University, thinks anything is better than war. “We, Afghan people, should welcome the efforts of peace because if the war continues we are victims.” According to him, those who oppose peace are thinking only of their own self-interest. “As citizens, we should appreciate any party that shows interest in peace,” he says.

Lasting peace?

Government officials are hopeful that the peace pact with Hekmatyar will open the door to permanent peace with the Taleban.

Sima Adalat, a civil society activist, thinks the government has acted with “decisiveness and gravity in accepting its armed opponents into political structures”. She thinks that if the agreement is allowed to be implemented – it will come into effect when it is formally signed by the president and Hekmatyar – “no doubt it would inspire others”.

A splinter of the Taleban led by Mullah Rasool, who was the Taleban-appointed governor of Nimruz province, has welcomed the agreement with the Hezb-e-Islami – “one of the jihadist groups that was carrying out armed counter operations against the occupiers in the way of (Afghan) independence and liberty”, according to a statement from the group. Rasool was appointed to lead the Taleban at a meeting of fighters in Farah after the death of Mullah Omar was made public last year. The group has praised Hekmatyar for insisting on a deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops.

But the Taleban under Mullah Haibatullah, the successor of Mullah Mansoor who was killed in a US drone attack in May, have questioned Hekmatyar’s motive for suing for peace. In an article in Pashto uploaded on the Taleban website, Voice of Jihad on Sep 26, the warlord who has not been named even once, stands accused of committing a crime. “He (Hekmatyar) would not only suffer the anger of God by leaving the jihad rather he has perpetrated a big crime too”.

Activist Fareed Asefi warns the agreement with Hezb-e-Islami has weight only if the Taleban are tempted to join. “Despite all the political words, the main player in peace talks is Taleban … talking to Hekmatyar alone cannot dry the roots of insecurity. The role of Taleban is very important,” he says.

Still, important lessons may have been learnt. Observers feel progress was made with the Hezb-e-Islami because of the absence of preconditions from the side of the government, and the decision to keep the talks to within Afghan groups. In the past, the High Peace Council always started out with preconditions. Now the focus is on building relations with all factions.