The Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) headed by Engineer Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has also joined the negotiations, brokered by the Turkish government, which aims at reconciliation amongst the warring Afghan factions.
Norway-based HIA leader Ustad Qareeb-ur-Rahman Saeed confirmed the move. Ankara is playing a key role in the indirect dialogue between the rival Afghan groups, particularly with Tehreek-e-Taliban of Mullah Omar. The inclusion of HIA has enhanced importance of the parleys being held in Ankara. Certain Taliban stalwarts are already camping in Turkey in connection with the talks.
Ustad Qareeb told a Peshawar-based Pushto daily that he along with his other colleagues, currently residing in Europe, held detailed talks with the Turkish prime minister. The purpose of the dialogue was to help resolving the conflict through peaceful and political means, he added.
The HIA presented a formula for resolving the conflict, which would also be discussed by Prof Burhanuddin Rabbani-led reconciliation council.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai recently announced convening a meeting of Afghanistan’s traditional Loya Jirga, which would discuss on the current situation of Afghanistan and the United States’ strategic policies in the region. In this connection, President Karzai is making hectic efforts for a ceasefire and reconciliation with the resistance forces, like Tehreek-e-Taliban and Hizbe Islami.
The HIA sent a five member delegation to Kabul in March 2010 and handed over a formula to President Hamid Karzai and several foreign diplomatic missions, including France and Pakistan. However, the HIA delegates returned without getting positive response from the stakeholders. Ustad Saeed says, “We are trying to constitute a peace shura after taking all the factions and groups into confidence.” Later the peace shura would present the proposals to reconciliation commission and other forums.
Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar has reportedly ready for dialogue albeit with certain conditions. The United Nations is also engaged in scrutinising of Taliban militant list. A number of leading Taliban have been removed of wanted list. The US is also attempting to convince Taliban leaders and commanders to join the political process.
However, the US-led allies believe that unless Pakistan is not taken on the board, no one could ensure return of peace in the war-ravaged Afghanistan.
In this respect, top US officials are visiting Pakistan frequently with an aim to convince Pakistan for extending support to President Karzai and his associates who are want reconciliation with the rivals.