Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: UN lifts sanctions on notorious Afghan warlord paving way for return

The only insurgent to have signed a peace pact with the Afghan Government, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, has had sanctions against him dropped by the United Nations Security Council, potentially paving the way for him to openly return to the country. Image copyright Reuters Image caption The signing ceremony was carried live on television

The Afghan government has signed a peace agreement with Hezb-e-Islami, the country's second largest militant group. Based on the deal, the warlord and his militants were granted a comprehensive state pardon that hugely criticized by some Afghans and human rights groups. While playing only a small role in the current insurgent conflict in Afghanistan, Hekmatyar was a major figure during the bloody civil war of the 1990s, when he was accused of indiscriminately firing rockets into Kabul, as well as other human rights abuses. Maulawi Abdul Khabir, Deputy for High Peace Council (HPC), while voicing pleasure over removal of HIA leader’s name form UN-black list, said, “this step revealed that the Afghan government is committed for bringing peace and stability in the country.”

“Breakthrough in peace process between government and HIA is a sign showing that Afghans has the capability to resolve their challenges at any condition.”

President Ashraf Ghani and the leader of Hezb-e-Islami Afghanistan, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar in September formally signed peace agreement. “It is a major step for the peace process between Hezb-i-Islami and the government of Afghanistan.”

In removing Hekmatyar from the list of people sanctioned for their ties to al-Qaeda, Islamic State, and other militant groups, the U.N. unfroze his assets, and dropped a travel ban and arms embargo against him. Hekmatyar's whereabouts have been unknown since he signed the peace deal with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in September via a pre-recorded video from an undisclosed location. With the U.N. sanctions now removed, government officials expect Hekmatyar to eventually return to the Afghan capital, despite the continued controversy. Many foreign governments, including the United States, praised the accord at the time as a step toward wider peace in Afghanistan.
Per the Afghan government's request, the United Nations drops sanctions against Hezb-e Islami party leader and former Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. This potentially sets up his return to Afghanistan, which is part of the country's peace deal with its second largest militant group, signed in September 2016.