03 August 2017

News Story: Hekmatyar Labels Taliban’s War Satanic And Vain

Hizb-e-Islami leader, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
By Samim Faramarz

Leader of Hizb-e-Islami group Gulbuddin Hekmatyar on Tuesday labeled the Taliban war against government “satanic and vain”, and reiterated his calls for the group to join the peace and reconciliation process. 

Hekmatyar, the longtime leader of Hizb-e-Islami who recently sealed a peace accord with the Afghan government after years of self-exile, said at a gathering on Tuesday the Taliban is fighting for the interests of strangers. 

“Those who are choosing the path of war, they are the oppressors and they are moving the wrong way, they pursue inhuman and satanic objectives,” he said, referring to the ongoing insurgency by the Taliban. 

Pointing to the formation of new political coalitions, Hekmatyar said certain groups within government are attempting to weaken the state and create challenges in the way of the peace process.

“Now this system is threatened by those who are part of government. Sometimes they form coalitions, sometimes they organize protests and sometimes they establish sit in tents on the streets,” he told the gathering who were Hizb-e-Islami loyalists from Logar province.

Read the full story at TOLOnews