Afghanistan’s High Peace Council (HPC) and Hizb-e-Islami (HIA) are set to convene the third round of peace negotiation talks in Kabul within a day or two, the HPC said in a statement on Friday, referring to their recent rounds of formal talks with the second largest militant group after the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Led by former Jihadi commander, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Hizb-e-Islami announced in March that its leaders have decided to enter a face-to-face dialogue with the government in an attempt to seal a final peace agreement.
The two sides have yet to discuss the entire process and details of the peace talks, said Attaullah Salim, a deputy head of the High Peace Council (HPC) on Friday.
As hopes for the finalization of a peace agreement with the resurgent group gathers momentum, critics however have accused the militant group of seeking incentives from the central government.
A number of analysts have said that constant deadlocks that hit the direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban finally persuaded Hizb-e-Islami to enter negotiations with the central government.
The peace council has said that these talks are now moving forward in the right direction and no side so far has set preconditions or suggested a mediator.
Efforts have been stepped up to discuss the recommendations of the two sides in the next round of talks, this would enable the two sides to set grounds for where they can hear each other out, which would help reduce tension and violence, HPC deputy head Attaullah Saleem told TOLOnews.
“The second round of formal negotiations were wrapped up with the Hizb-e-Islami delegation. Our recommendations have been submitted to them and we will receive their notes as well. The next meeting is hoped for Saturday in order to determine the general layout of the talks with them,” Saleem added.
When asked about the preliminary rounds of talks with Hizb-e-Islami, the HPC said that talks with the group had been started almost seventeen months before, but the government handed over the responsibility of moving the talks with the group two weeks before.
Nevertheless, some prominent members of Hizb-e-Islami have also expressed hope that the talks would prove to be a step forward towards curbing the scale of violence in the country.
“In my perception, the topics relating to the participation in the government and the issue of ministries are the secondary issues. Before that, we need to address a number of important issues. An environment of trust must be taken into consideration so that the remaining issues are resolved,” Helal said.
In addition, some other Afghan politicians and political figures have criticized Hekmatyar’s continued opposition to government, calling on to him to rejoin the peace process.
“May Allah help Hekmatyar to return to his country, he went into the mountains without having a logical reason. He should not have done so. Still it is the right time, so he must return,” said former Jihadi leader Sebghatollah Mujadedi.
Meanwhile, a number of MPs and politicians criticize Hekmatyar’s policies and have accused Hizb-e-Islami of trying to get incentives from the government in Kabul by entering direct talks.
“According to my knowledge, Hizb-e-Islami has asked for two ministries to be allotted to it. But ministries will not solve the problem and it cannot change anything to support peace, stability and security in the country,” deputy speaker of senate Abdullah Qarloq said.
“I have constantly said that the peace issue in Afghanistan which is being tackled by the government seems like a propaganda project, a tactical, political and commercial project and it has not a link to the peace process in the country,” former Afghan ambassador to the UK, Ahmad Wali Masoud, said.
The HIA delegation arrived in Kabul two weeks ago at the invitation of the Afghan government. It is said that HIA in the preliminary talks asked for the lifting of sanctions imposed on it by the US and some other countries.
The HIA has been involved in armed resistance against various regimes in Kabul including the government of Sardar Mohammad Dawoud Khan, the first democratic president of Afghanistan, People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDA), the Mujahedeen government led of former president Burhanuddin Rabbani and the Taliban regime.http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/24531-hizb-e-islami-hpc-set-to-convene-third-peace-talks-meeting
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