Karim Amin, head of Hizb-e-Islami’s negotiations delegation, which recently reached a peace deal with government, on Saturday said the war between the security forces and the Taliban is killing Afghans and that it helps extend foreign soldiers’ presence in Afghanistan.
“The ongoing war unfortunately is between Afghans and is killing Afghans. Hizb-e-Islami wants to ask the Taliban who are you fighting and what are the reasons for your war? If you are fighting to withdraw the foreign troops [from Afghanistan], but you are killing Afghans,” Amin said.
He said in a discussion with TOLOnews that Hizb-e-Islami’s peace agreement with government will not affect the increase or decrease of the war but the party is trying to help factions of Taliban join the peace process.
“Except in some exceptional situations, Hizb-e-Islami has never fought with the security forces and because of this matter, we should not expect a change [in the war] after signing of the peace agreement,” he stated.
Meanwhile, a number of former government officials said Kabul should clarify that many armed men Hizb-e-Islami has and where they are.
“Government should have discussed with Hizb-e-Islami about the number of their armed forces and their whereabouts. These individuals should be disarmed and then the effectiveness of the deal should be assessed,” said Jamaluddin Badr, former governor of Nuristan.
“The situation has not improved; it has worsened. I think the Taliban and Pakistanis are trying to prove that we [Afghans] are the main players of the war and peace in Afghanistan. The situation will not improve by joining of Hekmatyar or other groups with government,” said Asadullah Saadati, an MP from Daikundi.
Reports indicate that practical steps have not been taken so far to implement government’s peace agreement with Hizb-e-Islami.
“The draft decree is prepared and is awaiting President’s [Ashraf Ghani] approval. It will be issued in the near future and then the joint commission will start work on its implementation,” said Ataurrahman, deputy head of the High Peace Council.
The peace agreement was signed at a gathering attended by representatives of the Afghan government and Hizb-e-Islami in Kabul last month.
http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/27816-hizb-e-islami-criticizes-talibans-war
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