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KABUL: The leader of Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has asked his fighters to abandon insurgency against the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF).
Hekmatyar’s instructions to renounce violence is yet another gesture by the group to join peace process which comes days after he declared the peace talks with the Afghan government is effectively dead.
He has conveyed the message through a statement issued on the occassion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
However, Hekmatyr has asked his fighters to respond to any fire by the Afghan security forces but refrain from any aggression against them.
This comes as Hekmatyar published an article in Daily Shahadat magazine belonging to the group, stating that the Afghan government must be dissolved, claiming that the majority does not accept it.
He also demanded a deadline for the withdrawal of all the US and NATO forces based in the country in a bid to help expedite the process.
The controversial article by Hekmatyar was however deleted shortly after it attracted criticisms with majority saying Hekmatyar will never abandon violence against the ordinary Afghan civilians.
The article by Hekmatyar was published days after an official of the group said Hekmatyar has issued new demands for the peace deal, including cancellation of pacts with the United State and a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops.
Earlier, officials in his party said Hekmatyar has changed his conditions for peace process with the Afghan government by stepping back from his demands for the complete withdrawal of foreign forces.
Hekmatyar was originally demanding the complete withdrawal of the foreign forces from Afghanistan before officials talks begun between his party and the Afghan government. -KP
THE PASHTUN TIMES
