Why Hekmatyar Stands on ISIL Side?

Hezb-e Islami’s announcement to support Daesh, before joining the government’s peace process shows that the political and strategic outlook of Hekmatyar and the party is based on what axis, and to what extend believes in the human rights, peace, and democracy.

Although the clamorous support of Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin Hekmatyar from groups and radical movements is not a fresh issue and it has happened many times that this party and its leader had backed up the elements and terror movements, but as Mr. Hekmatyar vowed to support Daesh group against Taliban, is a complicated, shocking and at the same time points out the nature of Hezb-e Islami’s lack of faith to human rights, democracy, and freedom of speech.
If we take a look at the 70s (solar year), when the civil war was ongoing between Communists and Islamists in Tajikistan, Hezb-e Islami Hekmatayr were sending soldiers and ammunitions in support of Tajikistani Islamists. The party had a link with radical movements of other Islamic countries in Central Asia, pushing to act as a worldwide Islamic movement.

The main question now is that why Hezb-e Islami prefers ISIL to Taliban and subsequently entered the peace process with the government, while not expressing regrets over its previous position.
The nature of Taliban is politically and structurally different from Daesh; ISIL claims to be the world’s caliph, while Taliban only want their own readings from Shari’a to be ruled in the geography of Afghanistan, not in the entire Islamic World and other lands.
The announcement of support can be viewed from two perspectives. First, is the close nature of Hezb-e Islami with Daesh Takfiri and terrorist movement rather than to Taliban and second, is the new role that Hezb-e Islami should implement in the country, after joining the peace process.

In the first perspective; as it was said about the inconsistency of the nature of Taliban and Daesh, we conclude that if Taliban join the peace process, they undoubtedly demand their share and besides, they will demand the implementation of their own readings from Shari’a, which on that condition, the traditional society and the strongly religious group of the community will support the Taliban, and there is no place for Hezb-e Islami. If the Taliban continue to combat the administration and the foreign forces, again, there is no place for Hezb-e Islami among them. They will have the same approach with this party that have with other movements.

The second perspective is the opportunism of Hezb-e Islami, the major regional and global games, and the ISIL’s need for recruiting in Afghanistan.
Hezb-e Islami’s announcement to support Daesh, before joining the government’s peace process shows that the political and strategic outlook of Hekmatyar and the party is based on what axis, and to what extend believes in the human rights, peace, and democracy.
We can decisively conclude from the contradictions between Hekmatyar’s previous position and his attendance to the peace process, that, although he has joined the peace process and apparently gave up the military combat against the government, but it is severely a radical and extremist movement that it will act like ISIL if it finds the situation favorable.

Undoubtedly, Mr. Hekmatyar’s personal views do not match the current situation in the country. He does not believe in democracy, the human right is a laughable subject for him and is totally opposed to the presence of women in the government. These are the nature of Hezb-e Islami and Mr. Hekmatyar’s beliefs. So why does he joined the peace process and what is he looking for.

Now the most important question should be asked from the government, that how it has trusted this perilous person and brought him to Kabul, distributed weapons to him and has ignored his suspicious activities.
Transferring ISIL from south to north and spreading war in all parts of Afghanistan are the programs that Hekmatyar is also partnering with. He came to play a role as his performance inside the administration also confirms the claim. When Hekmatyar openly supports such a dangerous terrorist movement and orders to his men to stand beside ISIL than the Taliban. What is the guarantee that he –with such a background – is not busy organizing the terror activities of ISIL group at the heart of the country and maybe he himself joined the peace process to transfer and spread Daesh? These are serious questions the government should answer.

Zaher Shokoohmand – (DID) press agency
Translated by Taher Mojab