‘Hezb-e Islami’ to Take Part in Upcoming Elections

The leader of Hezb-e-Islami (Islamic Party) of Afghanistan, Gulboddin Hekmatyar has announced that the party will take part in upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in the country.

“We will participate in parliamentary election. The structure of electoral commissions should be acceptable for all,” Hezb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar said.

Hekmatyar said for the presidential elections in 2019 it would be better for them to support a proper candidate instead of their own “even if we are 100 percent sure” of our nominee’s victory.

He noted the presidential candidate they will support should be acceptable not only to Afghans but to the countries in the region and the world as well.

“We think if we win through elections, there are still such forces in the region and world who cannot tolerate us and we don’t want for our power the blood of our nation to be spilled,” he said.

Hekmatyar added, “those who want to change the system must ask themselves what the alternative is and whether they are able to run the country.”

No one can take power by force. Every Afghan has the right to make demands but not to close roads.”Hekmatyar says, “some circles have started a campaign against them but he has asked his supporters not to take action against them.

He urged Afghanistan’s neighbors to help promote peace in the conflict-riddled country instead of promoting the conflict. He also expressed his concerns about the growing rift among the Gulf countries and the latest terrorist attack in Tehran.

Hezb-e-Islami has been a traditional ally of Jamiat-e-Islami, both right-wing parties emerging from the anti-Soviet resistance in the 1980s.