Gulbadin Hekmatyar, the Emir of Hizb-e-Islami in Afghanistan, has called for the formation of an interim government acceptable to all sides in the country, noting that the "defeat of the United States in Afghanistan is near."[1]
The Hizb-e-Islami is one of the key non-Taliban militant organizations in Afghanistan. In a message released on the eve of Eid-ul-Adha (the Muslim festival of sacrifice), the fugitive militant commander said: "Since the [defeat of the] Soviet Union, one more sun of victory is about to rise in Afghanistan and the defeat of America is near; having sensed its defeat, it [America] is now talking of reconciliation; the U.S. military is tired and is no longer able to fight."[2]
According to a report in the Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Jasarat, Gulbadin Hekmatyar added: "The establishment of peace is impossible in Afghanistan in the presence of foreign troops. In order for peace to be established in Afghanistan, the U.S. and British troops must quit Afghanistan."[3]
Following are some excerpts from his message, published by an Afghan website Afghanislamicpress.com:[4]
"Foreigners must Pull Out Their Troops from Afghanistan Unconditionally…"
"Moscow and Washington want to repeat the same strategy which they followed after the withdrawal of Russian forces [at the end of the Cold War]. They jointly formed the Northern Alliance to continue fighting in the war-ravaged country…"
"Our friends and enemies should know that the end to fighting in Afghanistan will be possible after the withdrawal of foreign forces and transfer of power to an Islamic government…"
"We do not have personal enmity with any internal group or foreign county. We believe in peace and harmony. We want [a] just and peaceful solution to all issues. We accept realities. We stress that everybody should be given their due rights…"
"[His proposals for stabilizing Afghanistan] Foreigners must pull out their troops from Afghanistan unconditionally; establishment of an interim government acceptable to all stakeholders; formation of a grand meeting of real representatives of the nation to make decisions about the county’s constitution, army, police and the next government, besides deciding the fate of those people who supported the invaders and allowed them to interfere in the internal affairs of the country…"
"We Condemn the Killings of Innocent Civilians at Schools, Mosques, and Bazaars… We Firmly Believe that This Action is Being Conducted by the Enemies of Islam and Afghanistan"
"We condemn the killings of innocent civilians at schools, mosques, and bazaars… We firmly believe that this action is being conducted by the enemies of Islam and Afghanistan. They want to ignite another war in the name of Mullah [criticizing clerics] to defame Mujahideen. But Afghans know that this is the handiwork of foreign spies, not of Mujahideen…"
"[I] would like to advise the Afghan masses in general and traders in particular to keep it in their minds while depositing their money and assets in banks, that foreign forces are about to leave Afghanistan. And these banks will close their doors and will transfer the assets outside the country which will deprive them of their hard-earned money…"
Endnotes:
[1] Roznama Jasarat (Pakistan), November 28, 2009.
[2] Roznama Jasarat (Pakistan), November 28, 2009.
[3] Roznama Jasarat,(Pakistan), November 28, 2009.
[4] www.afghanislamicpress.com, Afghanistan, November 27, 2009.
