Representatives of the Hezb-i-Islami, a militant group linked to an infamous Afghan warlord, are hoping to convince UN officials today that the time is right for a peace deal with insurgents.Hezb-i-Islami spokesman Muhammad Daoud Abedi said that the UN asked a delegation for a meeting, which follows talks that the Taliban-linked group had with President Hamid Karzai earlier this week.
EU representatives: He said the group also plans to speak with representatives from the European Union, but an official at the EU office said he had no knowledge of any meeting with the delegation.
Talk about possible reconciliation with insurgent groups, however, has not reduced violence, especially in southern Afghanistan where a major military operation is under way to rout the Taliban from parts of Helmand province. NATO said two service members were killed on Wednesday in a bombing, and another died as a result of small-arms attack, in the south. It is the first time that high-ranking representatives of the insurgent group, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, have travelled to Kabul to discuss peace. It's uncertain whether the talks with Hekmatyar's group will lead to an end game in the eight-year war, given the group's demand for a quick exit of foreign forces. Hezb-i-Islami wants international forces to begin withdrawing in July - a year ahead of President Barack Obama's desired deadline to begin a pullout, if conditions allow. But Abedi said the group is flexible on that main point of its 15-point peace offer.
"That is a starting point," Abedi said in a telephone interview. "If we start the process, we can be ready by another year or so. If President Obama wants the situation to be right for the withdrawal of the foreign forces from Afghanistan, he should start talking and taking some firm, honest steps to make the situation acceptable for that day. That's why we are putting this proposal on the table, to say 'If you really mean this, then let's work and get this thing done",' he said.
US Embassy spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden has said US officials have no plans to meet with representatives of Hekmatyar's group. Abedi said the delegation hoped European officials would persuade the US government to get involved in the negotiations.
"The ball is in their court." Abedi said. "If the US government would like to leave in honour and leave something behind that the Afghan people and the international community would be proud and grateful for, it is good for them to expedite the peace process, get involved in the negotiations and bring out their concerns so we could answer them and together we could get this all done and bring this ugly war to an end," he added.