UNAMA Welcomes Hekmatyar’s Return

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomed the return of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of Hizb-e-Islami party to Afghanistan. A UNAMA press release states UNAMA is encouraged by the progress on peace and the return of Hekmatyar to Afghanistan. The statement added that UNAMA supports the efforts by Afghanistan’s National Unity Government (NUG) to engage all those interested in establishing equitable peace and renouncing violence for good. The statement further says the agreement with Hizb-e-Islami demonstrates the preparedness of Afghanistan’s government to seek peace with armed anti-government elements, and UNAMA looks forward to its full implementation and to other armed actors joining a peace process. Last year in end-September, the government signed a peace deal with Hizb-e-Islami and agreed to request the UN to remove Hekmatyar’s name from a UN blacklist. Hizb-e- Islami is the only insurgent group to sign a peace pact with the government. Many hope this will lead to a wider reconciliation with the Taleban.