A man in Herat province attempted to attack the leader of Hizb-e-Islami Gulbuddin Hekmatyar with his shoe yesterday. The incident took place during the Friday prayers in the central mosque in Herat city at noon time. Hizb-e-Islami asserted that the shoe attack was masterminded by specific circles. Hashmatullah Arshad, a spokesman for the party, told Killid that the man is currently being investigated. Arshad added that the attack on Hekmatyar was conspiracy of some specific circles and asserted that it will become clear who was behind the incident after the investigation. According to the eyewitnesses, the man who was among hundreds of worshippers threw a shoe a shoe at Hekmatyar as he was in lead of the Friday prayers. Arshad further stated that the man was arrested by National Directorate of Security (NDS) personnel and is in NDS custody. Sources close to Hekmatyar said the man who attempted to hit the leader of Hezb-e-Islami was pardoned for his act. The issue has been widely shared on social media as there are mixed reactions regarding the move of the man. In September-end last year, the national unity government signed a peace deal with Hizb-e-Islami and agreed to request the UN to remove his name from a UN blacklist. Hizb-e- Islami became the only insurgent leader to sign a peace agreement with the Afghan government, in what many hoped would provide a model for a wider reconciliation with the Taleban.
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