What brought about Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s return to Afghanistan?

Former Prime Minister of Afghanistan Gulbuddin Hekmatyar was removed from the UN blacklist of terrorists on the 3rd of February 2017. The warlord’s 2016 peace deal with the Afghanistan government was viewed as a step towards his return to Afghan politics and antecedent of good faith to lift UN sanctions. The peace agreement addressed conditions for the Hezb-i-Islami to renounce military activities and accept the rules of the government.                                                                  

By granting full political rights, Hekmatyar’s return to Kabul has been awaited by some Afghan citizens. The 69 year old has enjoyed popular support in rural areas of Afghanistan where he was suspected of hiding. However, ordinary Afghans and human rights activists have been critical of the UN’s removal of sanctions against the so-called “Butcher of Kabul”. 

Why was Hekmatyr exiled from Afghanistan?

An anti-Soviet commander, Gulbuddin Hekmatyr was publicly known for killing thousands during civil wars that ravaged Afghanistan in the 1990’s. Initially a member of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), Hekmatyr later turned into a devout Sunni muslim and formed the fundamentalist Hezb-i-Islami. His party entered a bloody battle in 1979 against the Soviet forces occupying Afghanistan. However, Afghans despised him for the number of deaths during the following civil wars, welcoming the Taliban as a governing entity. He consequently fled Afghanistan.

Hekmatyr sought asylum in Tehran till 2002 when Iranian authorities expelled him for his opposition of the Iran-backed Hamid Karzai government. While Hekmatyr retracted his statements on Karzai, his whereabouts still remained largely unknown. Yet, many speculate his connections in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and al Qaeda helped shelter him in the mountains of Afghanistan. 

What are his plans for the future of Afghanistan? 

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has taken a strong stance on governance in Afghanistan. Skeptical of incumbent President Ashraf Ghani’s government, Hekmatyar has stressed upon the importance of a ending the crisis in Afghanistan. Furthermore, he called upon neighbouring countries of Pakistan and Iran not to interfere. While the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) formally ended in 2014, America has retained 1,800 troops in Afghanistan. The recent Massive Ordinance Air Blast (MOAB), developed and deployed by USA, on the Nangahar Province was unfavourably viewed by most Afghans, including Hamid Karzai. Earlier an ally, the Taliban has denounced Hekmatyar as a traitor to Islam. Nevertheless, he is  viewed as an important element for peace in Afghanistan; primarily in negotiations with al Qaeda, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, all of whom are essential for Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development.

Assessment: 

Hekmatyar’s socio-political views could radically reorient governance in Afghanistan. Having fundamentalist views on education and women’s rights, the scope for holistic development in the country is limited. The violent nature of the Hezb-i-Islami threatens peace in the area. The government can only to rely on statements of good faith for active political participation. The increasing political proximity with Pakistan has threatened Afghanistan’s relations with India. Known for explicit threats to fuel insurgency in Kashmir, Hekmatyar’s return to politics could heighten tensions in the Kashmir Valley. Thus, countries have been divided in their stance on his return.