The peace accord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s Hizb-e-Islami sealed with National Unity Government (NUG) was somehow expected to take a big step toward establishing security and peace in war-torn country of Afghanistan: the government leaders with singing this peace agreement added a new feather in their hat, but since the articles of the agreement have not been implemented by Hizb-e-Islami yet, many other big concerns have sparked: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s Hizb-e-Islami and his armed men, after 20 years, returned to Kabul last week, this coming resembled a kind of military maneuver.
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s Hizb-e-Islami members have so far refused to hand over their weapons although they have assured the nation that their armed men will not turn their weapons on government.
A Hizb-e-Islami spokesman, Qariburrahman Saeed, has said that there is no solid guarantee for the safety of Hizb-e-Islami fighters and that they need to be armed for their own safety. However he has not given details about the exact number of fighters under the group’s command.
“Hizb-e-Islami fighters were told to keep their weapons, but avoid fighting against government, they need these weapons for their own safety, because no one can guarantee their security,” said Saeed addressing media in Kabul.
Regarding the implementation of the peace accord, Saeed said that government was firmly committed to the peace agreement and that all Hizb-e-Islami prisoners will be released soon.
He said efforts have been accelerated to identify the capabilities of these fighters in order to incorporate them into security institutions.
In a question relating to the release of 13 high profile Hizb-e-Islami inmates, who are accused of having plotted suicide attacks against foreign troops in Afghanistan, Saeed dismissed such allegations and said many cases against Hizb-e-Islami members had been fabricated.
“Not only will these thirteen individuals be released step by step but so will the majority of individuals (prisoners),” added Saeed.
According to the some peace accord articles, Hezb-e Islami middle-or-high ranked members will surely be given positions in governmental organizations, their fighters incorporated into security institutions, the majority of Hez-b Islami prisoners are released and soon the other members will be freed.
Regarding the peace accord, it is relevant to say that the government has firmly been committed and Hez-e Islami demands are being agreed but Hez-e Islami is still hesitated about its members safety: One can ask: ‘If you had not been sure about your safety, why you singed the peace agreement with the government?’ It is probably in all minds that Hez-e Islami in disguise of the peace agreement entered Afghanistan, but now violates the lawful peace accord to follow its own interests.
Based on the international peace and political conventions, when a party or group as one side seal an agreement with the other side, they are obliged to implement the agreement articles one by one.
Releasing Hez-b Islami prisoners, removing Gulbudding`s name from UN black list and disarmament of Hez-b Islami are part of the peace agreement between Hez-e Islami and the Afghanistan government: the government has implemented it`s share but Hez-e Islami has not.
Gulbudding as a warlord has refused returning his weapons and his men are armed, that is a big concern for Afghan nation: peace and joining peace means laying down weapons and disarmament but Hezb-e Islami is behaving upside down.
A peacemaker with a gun has surely no faith in peace: an armed peacemaker with no doubt is a warlord!
The peace Afghanistan has been desiring, the peace for which Afghanistan has paid many price, the peace for which lots of Afghans over at least four decades have been victimized, lost their sweet lives, fled to all aver the world and the peace for which all Afghan nation energy and potentials are being burned wont surely be established by formalities like peace accord with Hekmatyar`s Hezb-e Islami.
Translated by: Rajabi Hafizullah
