Afghanistan is all set to finalise a peace deal with the Gulbuddin Hekmatyar-led Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) within days in an effort to end the 15-year war with the Taliban, according to the Associated Press (AP).
The deal is partly symbolic as the militant group has been largely inactive for years, but may be considered a breakthrough for President Ashraf Ghani, who has failed to revive peace talks with the Taliban.
Afghan High Peace Council’s deputy head Ataul Rahman Saleem told AP that the deal with HIA could be completed on Sunday after two years of negotiations. A senior HIA representative, Amin Karim, also said he expected President Ghani to approve the final version of the agreement on Sunday.
Under the 25-point agreement, the militant group would end its war against the government, commit to respecting the Afghan constitution and cease all contact with other insurgents. In return its members would receive amnesty and its prisoners would be released.
Ghani’s spokesman, Zafar Hashemi, would not comment directly on the HIA deal, telling reporters Saturday “the doors are open for peace talks” to all groups. He added, however, there had been some ‘optimistic’ developments.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the deal with HIA would have “no impact” on the overall peace process because “a majority of Hizb members are already part of the government”.
The agreement includes a guarantee of equality between men and women and respect for the Afghan constitution, both points of contention with the Taliban. It gives legal immunity for “all past political and military proceedings” by HIA fighters and mandates the release of all prisoners within three months. About 2,000 HIA members are jailed in Afghanistan, Karim said.
Under the agreement, Hekmatyar would have the role of a “consultant on important political and national decisions.” The two sides have also committed to bringing millions of refugees home from neighbouring Iran and Pakistan.
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