Avoid killing civilian officials, Hikmatyar tells fighters

KABUL (HIA) leader Gulbadin Hikmatyar on Sunday directed his fighters to avoid killing civilian officials, including attorneys, engineers, doctors, journalists and students.

In a statement marking the religious festival of Eidul Fitr, the former prime minister congratulated Afghans on celebrating the event. He hoped the countrymen would mark next Eid at a time when foreign troops will have left.

The HIA leader asked the fighters to focus their attention on the real enemy and avoid harming civilians and non-military officials. The fighters should not allow in their ranks anyone who tends to intimidating common people and has no respect for Islamic principles.

“Avoid bomb blasts which can inflict casualties on civilians, government officials, students, doctors, attorneys, mullahs, engineers, journalists and students,” Hikmatyar asked HIA fighters. He also urged the rebels not to force people into offering usher and zakat.

About the peace parleys, the HIA leader said the opposition side was not honest in its talks and was misleading the nation. The only solution to the conflict is continued armed resistance, he said. “We will not put our guns down until all foreign troops leave the country,” he insisted.

Hikmatyar claimed their armed struggle was successfully underway and they had gained many achievements so far.

He said peace could not be achieved until foreign troops withdrew from Afghanistan, urging the Afghans to rise in arms against foreigners so an Islamic government could be established.

He said the incumbent Afghan government had not been able to serve the masses for being corrupt.

Peace could come only when foreign troops left and their interference into internal affairs of the country stopped, he said. “They should let Afghans to resolve problems on their own,” he concluded.

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