Hezb-e- Islami Peace Proposal Led by Gulbudin Hekmatyar

The Hezb-e-Islami Peace and reconciliation council in Europe has circulated the following peace proposal

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Note: Hezb-E Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) is on the UK Ggovernment's list of "terrorist" organisations banned under the Terrorism Act 2000. The Home Office says:

"Led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar who is in particular very anti-American, HIG desires the creation of a fundamentalist Islamic State in Afghanistan and is anti-Western."

Afghanistan (Afghans) are in desperate need of PEACE

As a matter of fact the political and military situation in Afghanistan is going to the worst. The invasion and occupation of Afghanistan by the US and UK after seven years shows that, the occupation forces during and after the invasion was not able to keep the security situation calm but vice versa. The ongoing security stabilization went to the worst and even to the turmoil.

According to the political analysts there is no optimism for the stabilization in the future, even by the increase of international occupation forces.

The survey shows that the Afghan themselves became pessimistic about their future, because of the behavior and indiscriminate blind bombing by the NATO and American and British, air and ground forces, where until now, according to the survey, more than 70,000 afghans have lost their lives. Most of these were killed during the marriages and wedding ceremonies, funeral processions and other common gatherings. However, this blind and ruthless killings are still continued by the US and UK who want to impose the so-called western style Democracy on the Afghan Nation.

In the result of these brutalities, under the umbrella of (Endure freedom ), million of the Afghans, more than 22 out of 34 provinces, have been displaced internally, who have desperate need for shelter, food and health care. However, the aid agencies along with WHO, have went out of the budget and asked the international community for another six billions. The current estimate issued by the UN agencies shows that more than 8 million Afghans out of nearly 30 million of total population is under the poverty line. If not helped that could create a human catastrophe in the history of Afghanistan. Besides, hundreds of thousands of refugees from Pakistan and Iran have been pushed and compelled to go to Afghanistan, where no shelter or other humanitarian assistance, have been provided for them. Their children have been deprived from their basic rights of education and health care. Because of the hunger and poverty, there are News from provinces like Takhar, Baghlan, Kunduz..., in the north of the country as well as from the provinces in the East and north east like Pakitia, Paktika ….Where some of the parents have left or sold their children for 300 US dollars only.

According to the international news agencies, the Afghan government is run by the Mafia of Warlords, war criminals, smugglers, cultivators and supporter of Opium production. 10’s of NGOs(non- governmental organizations) have been created for the security reasons, with a huge number of mercenaries to protect the foreign missions, while they themselves are involved in terrorizing , killing , kidnapping , drug smuggling. Reports about their activities are regularly published in Afghan media as well as in the international media. The central government of President Hamid Karzai is too weak, and could not handle or control the behaviour of these riminals where most of them are wanted for war crimes and genocide for killing thousands of innocent Afghans.

A report which has a very "up to the poin" analysis about the agony of occupation is published by CHRIS NINEHAM and JANE SHALLICE explains that:

"The 2001 US led invasion succeeded in overthrowing the Taliban, but at a terrible cost. Tens of thousands died and hundreds of thousands fled their homes. At the time the journal 'international Security' warned that “because humanitarian assistance was disrupted by US and UK military strikes, millions of Afghans are at risk".

Since then the situation has got worse for most Afghans, the 2008 United Nations Development Report shows a decline in Afghanistan’s already dismal development index ranking of 2004

• Only 3 countries in the world are ranked lower than Afghanistan
• Life expectancy has fallen to 43 years since 2003
• Compare to 2001, infant mortality rate has risen to 135 per 1000 births
• Six million Afghans do meet their minimum daily food requirement
• 1 percent of the population have access to clean water
• Adult literacy has fallen from the 2003 figure to 23.5 percent
• Around 100,000 children are disabled and affected by the war

In August 2008 a group of 100 Afghan NGO's reported that violence in Afghanistan has reached its worst levels since 2001 . Over 260 civilians were known to have been killed in July 2008 alone. And the number of attacks on the occupation forces was greater in both May and June of that Year than in any month since the so-called liberation. This increase in violence is partly caused by the Taliban and other anti- occupation groups, but it is also a result of the growing number of air strikes by international forces- up 40 percent on last year- and more military activity from NATO and the Afghan army. The NGOs report extra judicial killings and brutality on the ground on the part of the occupiers.

Civilian deaths

The invaders refusal to undertake any account of Afghan deaths is a proof that casualties are not a major concern to the political and military commands. They have tried instead to conceal the death toll. The Pentagon spent millions of dollars to prevent the western media from obtaining accurate civilian satellite pictures of the effects of the US bombing. A Guardian investigation estimated 20,000-30,000 deaths were caused by the invasion in 2001. A journalist writing for Le Monde Diplomatique, estimated that 5,000 prisoners were killed after the surrender of the Taliban at Kunduz alone.

Too often Wedding parties, funerals and family gatherings have all been attacked. In June 2007 an airstrike was called up to attack a suspected Al-Qaeda hideout. It was quickly reported that seven children had been killed , whilst the US insisted that no children were in the target area. Later they had to admit that 100 civilians had been killed and then that airstrike had likely missed the primary target and that they , contrary to previous statements, knew there were children in the compound , in the following month 108 ‘ non combatants’ were reported killed , some at funerals following another bombing.

In 2003 the Rand Corporation estimated a successful peacekeeping intervention requires 20 occupation troops per 1000 head of population. In Afghanistan this would mean 500,000 foreign soldiers. Currently there are around 80,000. The shortfall logically leads to reliance on airpower.

A more dangerous world

NATO is using the 'good war' in Afghanistan to justify its continuing existence by pressuring states to throw troops, weapons and massive budgets into the fight for 'freedom' and 'democracy'. This fictional liberation of Afghanistan, attempted time and again, is costing hundreds and thousands of lives and billions of dollars.

(Quoted from "Afghanistan: why we should get out"), by CHRIS NINEHAM and JANE SHALLICE with an introduction by JOHN PILGER.

We the "Hezb-e-Islami Peace and reconciliation council in Europe" are of the view that the Afghanistan crisis would not and could not solve by the armed forces and by the genocide of the nation. The Afghans have already gone through the hardest time during and after the Russian occupation during (1979-1992), and now desperately need to live in peace and security. Fighting is hated by each and every Afghan, therefore, we strongly recommend to the actors involved in the Afghan crisis to stop the ongoing genocide of the Afghan nation and, before it is going to be too late, start negotiations with the anti occupation forces on the peace proposals which are forwarded by them.

Proposal for peace talks from the opposition Parties inside Afghanistan

Hezb-e-Islami Afghanistan and other freedom fighter groups involved in the fighting against the international occupation forces under the leadership of Engineer Gulbudeen Hekmatyar Head of Hezb-e- Islami and the former Prime Minister of Afghanistan, in main land Provinces have issued and sent their proposals for the practical and durable solution of the conflict.

The proposal which is signed by the Head of Hezb-e-Islami Eng Gulbudin Hekmatyar explains that:

"I am of the opinion to exchange views about the future of Afghanistan with the relevant actors."

"These talks should begin at the earliest, i.e., immediately, in order to stop further bloodshed."

"There is no other way. Otherwise the Afghan resistance against foreign occupation powers and the Kabul administration installed by them will grow, these talks have to begin, be it today or in five, ten or 15 years."

When referring to lasting peace he said, "we have to keep in mind a durable peace without interferences or dictation from the outside: a peace in which human dignity and the honour of the Afghan people are the foundation of life at the social and national level. A peace with equal rights and duties for all Afghan citizens, men and women alike, regardless of their ethnic or tribal affinities."

Proposal

1. "Withdrawal of foreign forces and definite timetable for their withdrawal. Withdrawal is to begin with the relocation of foreign troops into their bases
   Second step would be the initiation of the complete withdrawal of foreign troops including their secret and police services, mercenaries, and counselors.
2. At the same time a provisional Afghan government is to be set up without interference from foreign countries. It is to consist of personalities of proven integrity acceptable to all Afghans.
3. Even before elections there must take place an internal Afghan reconciliation. Internal Afghan reconciliation is very important for the reestablishment of unity and trust.
4. The provisional government will create a commission charged with the preparation of general, free elections. Such elections can take place after the withdrawal of foreign troops only, because free elections are not possible in the presence of foreign guns, tanks, and bombers. Nor in any direct or indirect foreign interference permissible, be it financially or via media.
5. These elections will result in a government accepted be the entire Afghan people and without need of foreign military protection.
6. As Afghan we are convinced that we can ourselves guarantee our security. If others are worried in this respect, we are ready to accept security forces from member countries of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), except forces from neighboring countries.

Afghanistan is not in need of foreign soldiers, mercenaries, and secret services. Rather Afghanistan needs physicians and hospitals, teachers and schools, professors and universities, engineers, tractors and building equipment. Prerequisites for a free and just Afghan society are first of all: Bread, water, health, education, and housing.

Necessary steps for creating confidence between the negotiators:

1. Military de-escalation and humanisation of the conflict.
2. Release of prisoners.
3. Afghans assurance that, they will endanger neither their neighbors nor the world at large.
4. Assurances by our negotiations partners that they will not interfere in internal affairs of Afghanistan. A peaceful, sovereign and independent Afghanistan will maintain political, economic and cultural relations with all states of the international community, relation characterised by friendship , mutual respect and esteem ". The upper mentioned proposals are discussable and we are ready to put it with relevant interested actors.

With regards
Qaribur Rahman Saeed
The peace and reconciliation council of Hezb-e-Islami in Europe
Ex-spokesman For Afghan Prime Minister (Eng. Gulbudin Hekmatyar)

Ex- Acting Minister for Ministry of Culture
Ex- spokesman for Hezb-e- Islami (Political Organisation)
Ex- Chief of Afghan News Agency (for both electronic and print media)