Gulbadin Hekmatyar

Gulbadin Hekmatyar, Fugitive Chief of Hizb-e-Islami in Afghanistan: 'Iran Helped America in Capturing Afghanistan and Iraq'; 'Iran is Ready for Friendship with All Communists, Hindus, Christians, and Any Other Enemy of Islam Against Sunni Muslims'; 'I Hope Not to Take Political Asylum in Saudi Arabia or Any Other Country'

Gulbadin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hizb-e-Islami in Afghanistan, recently gave an interview to the Pashtu-language Afghan website Benawa.com. Hizb-e-Islami is one of the key militant organizations in Afghanistan.

Recently, officials from the Hizb-e-Islami as well as from Afghan and U.S. governments have held secret talks aimed at brokering peace in Afghanistan. However, such talks have not borne fruit, due to Gulbadin Hekmatyar's key demand that the U.S. first announce a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

Following are some excerpts from the interview, originally published in the Pashtu language:

"As Far as the Mujahideen are Concerned, We Will Not Accept a Solution Which Cannot Guarantee the Foreign Forces' Withdrawal Without Any Condition"

Q: Rumors of talks between your party and the Afghan government have been circulating recently, and your spokesmen have also confirmed that Dr. Ghairat Baheer, Qaribur Rahman Saeed, and Daud Abidi of Hizb-e-Islami are busy with these talks. How much do you confirm these peace talks?

A: "We have no formal talks with the Kabul administration; the released rumors on this issue are not correct. The Kabul administration and their foreign supporters are spreading these rumors for specific aims. None of our officials has said that we are in formal negotiation with the Kabul administration. The Kabul administration doesn't have enough authority and power to do something for the solution of the crisis. If a government cannot prevent the foreigners from committing civilian casualties; if their voice is not being heard by the international forces regarding the civilian casualties, then how would it be able to take decisions about the important issues facing this country? Isn't it very bad to have expectations from such administration?"

Q: Do you think the U.S. will be ready to accept your main demands, such as the withdrawal of foreign forces, or at least drawing a specific timetable for them?

A: "Americans will withdraw from Afghanistan very soon Insha'Allah. They have no other options but to leave. I don't think they would have the patience and ability for long-lasting war, [nor] would they stomach the result of the war. As far as the Mujahideen are concerned, we will not accept a solution which cannot guarantee the foreign forces' withdrawal without any condition."

"Even if the Post of President is Offered to Me, I Would Rather Choose a Night in the Battlefield of Jihad than Being President for 100 Years; I Would Rather Die Than Live Like a Servant"

Q: If you come to Kabul, will you be as the leader of your party and an active member of the Afghan government, or will you gradually be stepping out of politics as the two other jihadi leaders Burhanuddin Rabbani and Abdul Rab Rasool Sayaf have faced? Or would you prefer to participate in peace talks because Hizb-e-Islami is an active political party and a political party wants a complete political share?

A: "In the presence of invaders [Americans], I have no wish to go to Kabul, nor do I want to take part in the puppet government [headed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai]. Even if the post of president is offered to me, I would rather choose a night in the battlefield of jihad than being president for 100 years. I would rather die than live like a servant…"

"Our Main Aim from the Negotiations is the Freedom and Integrity of the Country and the Withdrawal of All Foreign Forces as Soon as Possible... Not Just to Take Part in the Government"

"If the opposite side becomes ready to accept realities, leaves its focus on continuing the war, accepts that Afghanistan is the house of Afghans, and lets them choose a leader for themselves, then in this case we think that negotiation is productive, and we are ready for that. Because our main aim from the negotiation is the freedom and integrity of the country and the withdrawal of all foreign forces as soon as possible. Our aim from the negotiation is not just to take part in the government."

Q: Regarding political share, what would you want from the Kabul administration? Would they agree to give many posts to your party or, as it is rumored, would you be glad just for the post of the foreign ministry and some other posts?

A: "We have no negotiations with the Kabul administration, nor do we expect any positive step from them. And we will not take part in a government which is controlled by foreigners and in which foreign advisors are assigned in their offices and foreign commanders in their front line."

Q: If you become successful in negotiations, what will be the stance of your Mujahideen who are currently fighting against the foreign forces?

A: "Our all loyal brothers [fighters] have one stance in both negotiation and in jihad and resistance."

"If There Are Some Private Meetings, Those Meetings Must Not be Counted as Formal Negotiations; I Want to Reiterate That We Have No Formal Talks with Kabul Officials"

Q: Your spokesmen have confirmed peace talks, and Ghairat Baheer and Qaribur Rahman Saeed had talks with some officials inPakistan and in some other countries. Wwhat do you say?

A: "I heard no such words from any of the two persons, and no peace talks were conducted in Pakistan or in any other country. If there are some private meetings, those meetings must not be counted as formal negotiations. I want to reiterate that we have no formal talks with Kabul officials."

Q: President Hamid Karzai also confirmed these peace talks; he even said already that he will announce his candidacy after the peace talks are successful. So he announced his candidacy for reelection as president a few weeks ago. Doesn't that mean that peace talks are successful?

A: "If Karzai counts his meeting with those Taliban and our party members who are already in Kabul, that's his fault. He just wants to say that in order to earn the support of those people who are tired of war. He wants to show those people that Karzai is trying to end the war. Prove it to me, with which of the oppositions he had talks and has been successful? My party had no such talks, and I am sure that Taliban also have not talked with him. So if Karzai is pointing to Qaseem Fahim and Kareem Khalili [former jihadi leaders and warlords] whom he selected as his running mates in the elections, and both of them have fought against our party, so Karzai's stance means that still he wants the continuation of war."

Q: Isn't Ghairat Baheer's release for this purpose, i.e. to continue the peace talks?

A: "No, that's not true. Baheer spent six years in American jails in Bagram and Guantanamo Bay. He was kept in very small dark rooms no wider than a small table. He saw his face in mirror after six years for the first time. Haji Gul Rahman was also detained with him, and still it's not clear if he has been martyred or is still alive. These people had helped Karzai to get out… of prison…. [Karzai] promised himself that he will release them or quit his presidency - but look, Gul Rahman is still not released, but Karzai is president.

"Anyhow, I repeat my statement that I didn't assign Baheer to participate in peace talks."

Q: What is the role of those members of your party in peace talks who are living in Kabul? It is said that they are still counted as branch of your party and that you guide them directly.

A: "They form two groups from our party in Kabul. One group is loyal to our party, believes in jihad and in the country's freedom. They see the Americans as they did the Russians [in the 1980s, i.e. as invaders], and will not agree to anything less than an Islamic government. But the second group was disloyal and only partial friends; they surrendered to the American Kabul government, they cut off relations with us, but they are few, they are insulted now; even their families don't love them."

Q: The separated branch of Hizb-e-Islami is campaigning for you in Kabul and many of them are candidates for the provincial councils. They are paving the road for your coming to Kabul. Does this move have any link with the recent peace talks?

A: "There are no such negotiations, and their movements have no connection with peace talks, and we did not tell anyone to pave the road for us to go to Kabul. Those who cannot go from one area to another in Kabul without foreigners' permission - how can they pave the road for our coming?"

"I Don't Want a Guarantee for My Head From Anyone Except God; We Decided to Sacrifice Ourselves in the Way of God... This is My Strong Decision - That I Must Be in My Country, Whether I am Alive or Dead; I Don't See Any Brave Country in The World to Give Political Asylum to a Mujahid"

Q: Anyhow, if you join the planned peace talks, Saudi Arabia grants you asylum, and then you come to Kabul, who should guarantee your safety - because this time, no one's safety can be guaranteed?

A: "There is no specific plan for peace talks, and I hope not to take political asylum in Saudi Arabia or any other country. I don't want a guarantee for my head from anyone except God. We decided to sacrifice ourselves in the way of God. This is my strong decision that I have to be in my country whether I am alive or dead. I don't see any brave country in the world to give political asylum to a Mujahid. I am also ashamed for having gone to Iran, God forgive me. I will not repeat such a mistake again, if God is willing.

"Kabul officials are depending on foreigners for their security. Foreign security guards are assigned to their offices and houses. They cannot guarantee the safety of those Afghans living under their authority. Many Afghans are being killed in daily bombardment. So, how can we want the guarantee for our safety from such a government?"

Q: For the time being, a few former members of your party are assigned as ministers in the Hamid Karzai's government, and dozens of others are governors, deputy governors, senators, MPs, and head of many offices. Don't you think it is the clear indirect share in the government which will pave the road for the direct share?

A: "Those who joined the Karzai government were members of our party, but now they are not, because they accepted posts in the Kabul American government. They cannot represent our party directly and will not pave the road for indirect power share. These members are recruited to the government just to weaken our party and to cause confrontations among our groups - but, thanks to God, the enemy has not been successful in absorbing many of our friends and weakening us."

"[Our Key Demands Are:] Inter-Afghan Negotiation; Complete Withdrawal of Foreign Forces; a Perfect and Practical Timetable for Such A Withdrawal; Transition of the Authority to an Interim and Non-coalition Government; Free and Fair Election; Change of These Foreign Forces by Islamic Forces If Necessary For the Security of Other Parties - But These Forces Must not Be From Our Neighboring Countries... [and] Must Not Live in Cities and Must Be Under the Command and Observation of the Interim Government"

Q: One of the main obstacles for peace talks is the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan. Will you be ready in their presence to join the government? If not, what is the solution? Is it the withdrawal? Is it making a timetable for them? Or is it deployment of alternative Islamic forces from Islamic nations?

A: "The presence of the foreign forces is the main cause of the start and of the continuance of the war. In their presence, we will not join any government. We have a clear draft for the solution of the current crisis of which the main points are: inter-Afghan negotiation, the complete withdrawal of foreign forces, a perfect and practical timetable for such a withdrawal, transition of the authority to an interim and non-coalition [2] government, free and fair election, the change of these foreign forces by Islamic forces if necessary for the security of other parties, but these forces must not be from our neighboring countries. These forces must not live in the cities and must be under the command and observation of the interim government."

Q: There is also some confrontation between you and the Taliban. Neither of you accept each other for leadership; also, you don't have similar ideas about having a government. Don't you think you will fight with each other once again if the situation is changed?

A: "We don't even have the same ideas in many aspects with the Taliban, but we have one idea regarding jihad and withdrawal of foreign forces, and this is a very important point this time. We can reach out to one another if we talk. I have told this to the Taliban as well - let's come together and create one platform, and together fight our enemy."

Q: How do you view Iran's role in Afghanistan, since it has launched an extensive campaign to promote Shi'ite and cultural issues in this country?

A: "Iran is playing a very bad game. They opted for a dangerous policy against Afghanistan. Iran has had a hand in almost all fighting in Afghanistan since the withdrawal of the Russian forces. That time, Iran together with Moscow created the [anti-Taliban] Northern Alliance, to prevent the creation of a Mujahideen government. Russian-made weapons and Afghan currency were coming through Iran from Russia. Iran also helped America in capturing both Afghanistan and Iraq.

"In conclusion, Iran is ready for friendship with all communists, Hindus, Christians, and with any other enemy of Islam against Sunni Muslims."

Q: One thing that I have found in your interviews and speeches is that you are not directly condemning Hamid Karzai, and he is also doing the same. Can you tell me what is the fact behind that?

A: "We have no personal enmity with anyone. Our jihad is for Islam and for fighting only non-Muslim invaders. We focus on the main enemy in the fight, and tell our Mujahideen to expend their strength on the main enemy and not to be busy with others…."

www.benawa.com,