Exact date of Hekmatyar’s visit to Kabul still unknown

The exact date of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of Hezb-e Islami party’s visit to Kabul, which has been said to be next week, has not yet determined.

It has been scheduled that Hekmatyar to visit Kabul next week for signing peace agreement with President Ghani, but the Hezb-e Islami delegation has rejected.

The Hezb-e Islami representative has declared that the Afghan government has still not clear its position on Peace with the party.

“There are many steps remaining for the coming of Hekmatyar. We do not have any problem if the Afghan government stands by its commitments and we will give all our facilities to the government hundred percent,” Amin Karim, member of Hezb-e Islami delegation.

However, The High Peace Council says that Gulbuddin Hekmatyar will visit Kabul next week to sign peace agreement with the President Ghani.

“The negotiations on peace agreement will be finished during this week and we will witness the signing of peace accord by President and Hekmatyar,” Abdul Khaibar Oqchun, deputy of HPC said.

The Afghan Executive Office has also accepts that the important issues on peace has not been finalized with the Hezb-e Islami party.

“The conditions of Hezb-e Islamic have been accepted according to the Afghan constitution and the party has the right to follow its political programs like others,” Dawoud Asas, advisor to CEO said.

This comes as Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, now in his late 60s, says he wants a “real and fair peace” but with previous conditions the Kabul government is unlikely to even contemplate, such as the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan and new elections in 2016.

Earlier this year, Hekmatyar sent an envoy to Kabul to meet with senior Afghan officials and offer his services as an interlocutor, an associate of his told the AP.

According to the associate and one Afghan official, the envoy met with President Ashraf Ghani and, possibly, other senior leaders.

The president’s office did not confirm the meetings had taken place. Both the associate and the official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the secret nature of the subject.

Hekmatyar talks of an “inter-Afghan dialogue” that pointedly excludes neighbouring Pakistan, which has been a key mediator and host for Taliban-Kabul peace talks.