Democracy News

Karzai Meets with Insurgent Envoys
March 24, 2010
By: Benjamin Russell | Printer Friendly

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is meeting with a five-member delegation from insurgent group Hatib-e-Islami in Kabul, this week, in part to review the group’s peace plan, according to VOA news.

Hezb-e-Islami is “one of the most important groups fighting NATO and Afghan forces,” according to the New York Times, and is led by former Afghan Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. 

Hekmatyar is viewed as one of the country’s most brutal insurgent leaders and, despite no longer living in Afghanistan, continues to sponsor fighters in the country’s eastern and northern regions, according to the New York Times.

The group’s peace plan reportedly calls for the withdrawal of foreign forces in July 2010, a full year before President Barack Obama’s proposed troop drawdown is set to begin.  The 15-point plan includes provisions for support for the current Afghan government until a new government can be formed after foreign troops have left the country. 

According to Haroun Mir, director of Afghanistan's Center for Research and Policy Studies, it is unlikely that the demands will be met.  "These are outrageous demands, but they do not want to show that they are in a very weak position.  I am pretty sure that ultimately, they will settle [for] a few positions within the government," he said.

In addition to meeting with Hezb-e-Islami, President Karzai is planning a three-day peace conference for the end of April in which he hopes to address insurgent’s reintegration into society, according to the New York Times.  Representatives from several insurgent groups are expected to attend. 

Sources:

NY Times – Afghan President Meets with Insurgents

VOA News – Karzai Meets with Taliban-Allied Insurgent Group

Foreign Policy – Karzai Meets Envoys of Taliban-Linked Insurgency