HIA leader, Chinese envoy talk polls, peace process

KABUL (HIA) leader Gulbadin Hekmatyar on Wednesday discussed recently held parliamentary elections and the Afghan peace process.

A statement from HIA’s media office to Pajhwok Afghan News said the two sides met at HIA’s residential compound in Kabul and discussed next year’s presidential election, peace talks with Taliban and China’s role in the Afghan peace process.

During the meeting, Chinese envoy Jingson said it was his country’s responsibility to cooperate with its neighboring countries particularly with Afghanistan in various sectors.

Liu Jingson added his country was committed to having long term cooperation with the war-hit country.

For his part, Hekmatyar urged the Chinese government to help the Afghans end the decades long conflict and advance the peace process.

The HIA leader also expressed his deep concern about rigging allegations in the recent Wolesi Jirga elections in the country and said they would wait for the results.

He said they would atop a future course of action in consultation with other political parties once the Independent Election Commission (IEC) announced the results.

Hekmatyar said: “We and all Afghans want to permanent peace and we are all in favor of a peace that is honorable and we want election results which are acceptable to all Afghans.”

He added the HIA had so far made no decision about fielding a presidential candidate and such a decision would be consulted with other political parties.

pk/ma

Views: 2