Although the Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) headed by Gulbadin Hekmatyar is supporting a political solution to the long standing Afghan conflict, but doubts that the contacts between the United States and Taliban militants would yield fruitful results.
Ustad Qareebur Rehman, one of the five top HIA leaders, expressed these fears in a recent email from Norway. Rehman has been in contact with the government of President Hamid Karzai since March 2010.
Despite offering resistance to the US-led alliance since Taliban regime was toppled in November 2001, HIA chief Hekmatyar is on good terms with Karzai, who recently accredited the HIA as a “well popular and influential group” in the war-stricken Afghanistan. The HIA also holds a solid representation in the Afghan government and parliament through its former members. Despite holding positions in the Afghan government and parliament, almost all former HIA leaders and commanders respect Hekmatyar. About the ongoing attempts for negotiations between the US and Taliban, Rehman welcomed the efforts and hoped that they would continue until the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan. He said the talks should be open and include all parties involved in the conflict.
