Taand misconstrued Hekmatyar’s statements: Jarir

KABUL (Pajhwok): A news agency, Taand, has reported that Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar talked about the duration and legitimacy of the current government, while a leading member of the party says the report was aimed at creating rift between the Taliban and HIA.

Claim:

Taand on Wednesday said that HIA leader Hekmatyar called on the Taliban to provide the nation with an explanation about the duration of their caretaker government and the structure and details of their next government.

The source quoted Hekmatyar as saying, “All the friends and enemies of Afghanistan have one question that for how long the Taliban’s government would continue and what will be its nature in the future?”

According to the report, Hekmatyar called national legitimacy of the current government of Afghanistan as a basis for its international legitimacy. The HIA leader also rejected former President Hamid Karzai’s idea to convene a Loya Jirga (grand council) to give legitimacy to the new administration.

The report says that Hekmatyar added LoyaJirga was a symbolic and ineffective platform and only the Taliban could determine the new government.

Fact Finding:

Government officials have so far not commented about the report, but a leading member ofHezb-I-Islami, HumayunJarir told Pajhwok Afghan News that the report on the Taand website was baseless.

“I have read the report. Taand belongs to the team of former President Ashraf Ghani. [Hekmatyar] talked about some issues, but Taand added lies to the statements and then it published them. I do not agree with the report…,” he said.

He says Taand in the past also spread false news about Hezb-i-Islami.

Pajhwok shared the issue with Taand via email and Facebook messenger, asking the news agency on what basis it quoted Hekmatyar.

Pajhwok also asked the news agency if it has recording of Hekmatyar’s voice, but the news agency yet to respond.

Conclusion: Taand has published a statement of Hezb-i-Islami leader which is denied by a leading member of the party and Taand has not given any explanation about it.

Verdict: The report on GulbuddinHekmatyar’s remarks is mostly inaccurate.

Mds/ma