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Hekmatyar gives gov’t 10-day ultimatum to accept HIA demands
Dozens of Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) supporters staged a protest rally in Kabul on Friday, demanding the release of the party’s prisoners from Afghan jails.
Addressing the marchers, the Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar set the government a 10-day deadline to meet their demands.
Hekmatyar warned that if the government failed to abide by conditions laid out in the gov’t-Hizb-e-Islami accord – which was signed in 2016 – the protests would be extended to other provinces.
“The Arg (Afghan Presidential Palace) must put aside deception and implement the Hezb-e-Islami agreement and release all our prisoners. We give a ten-day deadline,” Hekmatyar said.
Meanwhile, Hekmatyar claimed that the security forces have prevented his supporters from joining the protest in several parts of the city, aimed at curbing the demonstration.
A number of Hizb-e-Islami members have called on the Afghan security forces to respect civil rights and let the people raise their voices.
“Police, army, and the NDS forces are the children of the country, they have to let us raise our voices,” Abdul Sattar Khawasi a member of the party said.
Habiburrahman Hekmatyar, son of Hekmatyar stated: “If our demonstrations are stopped (police did not open the way toward the city), we will remove all the police checkpoints from the ways.”
The Afghan government and the Hizb-e-Islami leader Hekmatyar signed a peace treaty in 2016.
According to the agreement, Hekmatyar agreed to cease hostilities in exchange for government recognition of the group and support for the removal of US and United Nations sanctions against the group’s leader.
Based on the agreement, the government committed to grant Hekmatyar amnesty for all his past offenses and release Hizb-e-Islami inmates.
Ziaulhaq Amarkhil, a Senior Advisor to President Ghani in Political and Public Affairs and the Governor of Nangarhar, had stated in a tweet that the government released 1164 Hizb-e-Islami prisoners from Jails in 2020.
He said the government has no obligation to release those who are involved in cases of violation of human rights (Haqul Abd – due to mankind), kidnapping, drug trafficking, prisoners who are sentenced to death and are members of Daesh.
The head of Afghanistan’s embassy in New Delhi, Noor Ahmad Noor, has met with Afghan traders residing in India to discuss their concerns and challenges.
During the meeting, members of the Afghan business community shared issues related to trade and commercial activities.
Noor assured the traders that addressing their concerns is a top priority for the embassy and emphasized that efforts will be made, in coordination with the host country, to find practical solutions.
He also reiterated the embassy’s commitment to supporting Afghan traders and facilitating economic and commercial engagement in India.
The United Nations has confirmed that Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, and her staff are working on a visit to Kabul later this month.
Speaking at a press conference, UN Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said that an official announcement would be made once arrangements are finalized.
Dujarric said the visit is intended to follow up on the Doha process, which was initiated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in May 2023. He emphasized that the engagement aims to be both principled and pragmatic, with a focus on serving the interests and well-being of the Afghan people.
The plan for DiCarlo’s visit was first announced by the Afghan foreign ministry following a meeting with UNAMA officials In Kabul on Tuesday.
Badruddin Haqqani, the Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to the United Arab Emirates, has met with Omar Saeed Al Mummari, Head of Security Affairs at Etihad Airways, to discuss the launch of the airline’s flights to Afghanistan.
During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on the planned resumption of Etihad flights to Kabul. Al Mummari shared details on the operational arrangements and expressed confidence that the flights would begin on a regular basis in the near future.
Ambassador Haqqani welcomed the development, saying that the launch of Etihad flights to Afghanistan would further strengthen bilateral relations between Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates. He noted that the move would also play a significant role in boosting trade, enhancing economic cooperation, and facilitating travel between the two countries.
Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, had earlier announced that it plans to commence direct flights to Kabul in December 2025, marking a significant step toward expanding air connectivity between Afghanistan and the UAE.
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