Afghanistan Times
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AT-KABUL: The Hezb-e-Islami Party of Afghanistan, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, on Saturday said that it has been “fully committed” to women’s rights and achievements of the government which were made over the past 14 years after collapse of the Taliban regime in the country.
“All those achievements, particularly women’s rights which are gained so far under the constitution and are not contrary to Islam are acceptable for the Hezb-e-Islami Party,” chief negotiator of the party, Karim Amin, told a press conference in Kabul. “Women can work as ministers, parliamentarians and on other posts. According to the Islamic principles, we are committed to those rights,” he said.
Karim said that women’s empowerment is still “symbolic” and the HIA wants increased participation of women in the government. “Women still have less involvement in social activities or life.”
The HIA delegation which is in Kabul since March has reached agreement on some points, but the negotiations are continued over some issues which had not been disclosed to media.
“We are optimistic and hopeful to soon reach a peace agreement with the HIA delegation. There are no major differences in stances of the High Peace Council and Hezb-e-Islami. We hope to overcome the differences soon and reach a deal,” a member of the High Peace Council told Afghanistan Times.
The HIA member said they have taken initial steps as goodwill and reduced armed attacks in Afghanistan and the delegation condemned all terrorist attacks that kill “innocent Afghans” whether it is by Taliban, HIA, government or foreign troops.
The HIA delegation hoped that Afghan government as initial steps will also release detainees of the HIA, who had not committed crimes and are detained only for having membership of the party. “We also hope the government will allow members of the party to conduct their political activities without fearing detention,” he said.
The HIA claims that a big part of the Taliban fighters are originally members of the Hezb-e-Islami and they will shun violence once the HIA reached peace deal with government and this fact will have a big impact on Taliban attacks in Afghanistan. “Mullah Rasoul is among those Taliban who will join peace talks if the HIA and the government reached a peace deal,” Amin said.
The party believes that no group would be able to establish a better government, neither Taliban and nor HIA, until all of them join hands for prosperity of Afghan people.
The HIA said that the United Nations need to be guarantor of the peace deal between government and HIA if they reach any agreement. Amin said that the party would not accept Pakistan and Iran even as mediators in the peace process.
