Politicians React to Hekmatyar’s Idea of Granting Local Autonomy to Taliban

Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on Thursday said those individuals who have joined Afghan peace process, should be careful of their remarks and avoid provoking schism among people.

Speaking at a ceremony held for death anniversary of Abdulrahman Sayed Kheli, former police chief of Kunduz, Abdullah said: “We expect all those who have joined peace process to pay heed to national unity in their remarks and behavior instead of provoking schism among Afghanistan people.”

The event also attended by some political figures including Mohammad Yunus Qanooni Former Vice President and a member of Jamiat-e-Islami party, Omar Daoudzai former Interior Minister and a senior member of Council for Protection and Stability, and Iqbal Safai a number of parliament.

“The plan of [handing over territories] to oppositions as secure areas is big conspiracy and it can be described as fragmentation of Afghanistan,” Qanooni said. “It is a conspiracy which the enemies of Afghanistan have been searching for since many years.”

Meanwhile, MP Safai claimed that handing over territories in country to Taliban is the idea of Pakistan Intelligence agency (ISI), insisting that he will stand against this “conspiracy”.

“This is an outside plan; the individual who wants to implement this plan is a foreign agent,” He said. “We will stand against him.”

This comes as earlier, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar the leader of Hezb-e-Islami party in an interview with the New York Times, suggested the government should grant local autonomy to the Taliban insurgent group in certain regions, or peace provinces. He called these regions “secure areas” that would remain part of Afghanistan, even as Afghan Army troops withdrew from them.

“It would be very effective,” he said on March 4, adding that in his discussions with President Ashraf Ghani had been supportive.

At the event, Omar Daoudzai criticized the government, He said: “We are hearing that current administration is seeking extension of its term. We should not be deceived again in elections.” He warned that they will not allow the government to be extended.