Afghanistan Hezb-e-Islami supremo Gulbuddin Hekmatyar visits Pakistan

Leader of Hezb-e-Islami of Afghanistan Gulbuddin Hekmatyar reached Pakistan Monday (today) on a three-day visit as part of ongoing efforts ending decades-long Afghan War to a concluding end as part of Afghan Peace Process, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq received the Afghanistan leader at Islamabad International Airport. His visit will conclude on October 22.

The former Mujahideen leader will meet with Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sinjrani and National Assembly Speaker Asad Qiaser.

He will also deliver a speech at Think Tank and meet up with journalists.

It is pertinent to note that this is the consecutive second high level meet up between Pakistan and Afghanistan civil-military leadership in last one month as chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) of Afghanistan also visited Pakistan in September.

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of Hezb-e-Islami of Afghanistan with a delegation will arrive in Islamabad.

In a statement issued by Pakistan Foreign Office on Sunday, “During the visit, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar will call on the prime minister and president and will meet Senate chairman, National Assembly speaker, foreign minister and other dignitaries. He will deliver a talk at a policy think-tank and interact with the media.”

The statement reads, “The visit of Hekmatyar will provide an opportunity for an exchange of views on the Afghan peace process and strengthening of Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations as well as people-to-people interaction.”

"Pakistan attaches high importance to its fraternal ties with Afghanistan, rooted deep in shared history, faith, culture, values and traditions. Pakistan fully supports all efforts for peace, stability and prosperity of the Afghan people," it further said.

The Foreign Office Spokesperson said, “Pakistan has consistently supported an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process.”

The visit will further strengthen bilateral ties and people-to-people linkages between the two brotherly countries and help advance efforts for peace and stability, the official handout said.

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar was a Mujahideen leader fought against the former Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan.

Hekmatyar was also Afghanistan prime minister in 1990s and after the ouster of Taliban regime in 2001 by the United States, Hekmatyar pick up guns against the US and its alliance NATO forces.

However, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar signed a peace deal with President Asharaf Ghani, ending his 20 years of exile and resistance in 2016.