Naqibullah Hashimi, a spokesman for Hizb-e-Islami group, has said their leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar does not need the permission of foreign countries to return to Afghanistan.
He said Hekmatyar would return even if his name has not been removed from the United Nations (UN) sanction list.
According to Hashimi, once Hizb-e-Islami prisoners are released and the way is paved for Hizb-e-Islami families to return to the country, Hekmatyar will himself return and no foreign country can stop him.
“Hekmatyar does not need the permission of foreign countries to come to Afghanistan, especially to Kabul, and they cannot stop him. We hope that the Afghan government releases Hizb-e-Islami prisoners and prepares the situation for Hizb-e-Islami refugees to return to Afghanistan and after that Hekmatyar will move to a province in the country,” he said.
Russia, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) earlier said it wanted more time to decide on its vote with regards to removing Hekmatyar’s name from the UN sanctions list.
According to international laws, the people and groups who are blacklisted worldwide cannot travel freely.
The joint committee that is responsible for implementing the peace deal signed between Hizb-e-Islami and Afghan government has not commented.
International relations commentators however said the people whose names appeared as terrorists on the UN blacklist cannot live freely in society.
“There has been less pressure on Hekmatyar and somehow the UNSC wants to wait until Trump takes office (before making a decision),” said Yasir Mohsini, an international relations analyst.
The High Peace Council (HPC) meanwhile said the joint committee will implement the peace deal.
“There is no serious problem in the way of implementing the deal. Work has started and it will continue as planned,” said Mohammad Ismail Qasimyar, the HPC advisor for international relations.
The Afghan government sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council in early December asking them to remove Hekmatyar’s name. France has since opposed the move, while Russia said it needs more time to make a decision.