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ARG Advisor Welcomes UN’s Move To Lift Sanctions On Hekmatyar

A senior advisor to President Ashraf Ghani on Monday welcomed the United Nations’ move to remove Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s name from the sanctions list and said it was a historical day for Afghanistan.

Speaking at a joint press conference on Saturday afternoon in Kabul following the UN’s announcement earlier in the day, Akram Khpalwak said government is currently focusing on securing the release of Hizb-e-Islami prisoners and paving the ground to take in return Hizb-e-Islami refugees.

In addition, he called on all other insurgent groups to join the peace process – as did Hizb-e-Islami last year.

In turn, Hizb-e-Islami's chief peace negotiator Amin Karim said the removal of Hekmatyar’s name from the sanctions list is a result of the peace dialogue with Afghanistan.

Karim also thanked the Afghan government for delivering on the commitments made during the signing of the peace deal.

He stated that commissions from both sides were currently working on implementing all commitments stated in the accord and that both sides are satisfied with the progress to date.

Karim emphasized that the removal of Hekmatyar’s name shows political discussions are the “only logical way to achieve peace in Afghanistan”.

He also stated that the international community has shown they support the Afghan-led peace process.

Meanwhile, the High Peace Council’s deputy chief Abdul Khabir Ochqon said that peace negotiations between Hizb-e-Islami took seven months to complete.

He also thanked the United Nations and the Afghan government for securing the removal of Hekmatyar’s name from the sanctions list.

The political head of Hizb-e-Islami Ghairat Bahir in turn thanked President Ashraf Ghani and the United Nations for having taken the step and said all articles of the agreement have so far been addressed and are in the process of being implemented.

Late Friday the United Nations Security Council ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee removed the name of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar from its sanctions list.

The security council committee said “pursuant to resolutions 1267 and 2253 concerning Daesh, Al-Qaeda and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities,” it has removed the name of Hekmatyar from the Daesh and Al-Qaeda Sanctions List.

“The assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 2 of Security Council resolution 2253 (2015) no longer apply to the name set out below," read the UN notice on Hekmatyar.

This comes after Hizb-e-Islami last year signed a peace accord with the Afghan government.

ARG Advisor Welcomes UN’s Move To Lift Sanctions On Hekmatyar

Addressing a press conference Hizb-e-Islami thanks government for delivering on its commitments in accordance with the peace deal.

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A senior advisor to President Ashraf Ghani on Monday welcomed the United Nations’ move to remove Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s name from the sanctions list and said it was a historical day for Afghanistan.

Speaking at a joint press conference on Saturday afternoon in Kabul following the UN’s announcement earlier in the day, Akram Khpalwak said government is currently focusing on securing the release of Hizb-e-Islami prisoners and paving the ground to take in return Hizb-e-Islami refugees.

In addition, he called on all other insurgent groups to join the peace process – as did Hizb-e-Islami last year.

In turn, Hizb-e-Islami's chief peace negotiator Amin Karim said the removal of Hekmatyar’s name from the sanctions list is a result of the peace dialogue with Afghanistan.

Karim also thanked the Afghan government for delivering on the commitments made during the signing of the peace deal.

He stated that commissions from both sides were currently working on implementing all commitments stated in the accord and that both sides are satisfied with the progress to date.

Karim emphasized that the removal of Hekmatyar’s name shows political discussions are the “only logical way to achieve peace in Afghanistan”.

He also stated that the international community has shown they support the Afghan-led peace process.

Meanwhile, the High Peace Council’s deputy chief Abdul Khabir Ochqon said that peace negotiations between Hizb-e-Islami took seven months to complete.

He also thanked the United Nations and the Afghan government for securing the removal of Hekmatyar’s name from the sanctions list.

The political head of Hizb-e-Islami Ghairat Bahir in turn thanked President Ashraf Ghani and the United Nations for having taken the step and said all articles of the agreement have so far been addressed and are in the process of being implemented.

Late Friday the United Nations Security Council ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee removed the name of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar from its sanctions list.

The security council committee said “pursuant to resolutions 1267 and 2253 concerning Daesh, Al-Qaeda and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities,” it has removed the name of Hekmatyar from the Daesh and Al-Qaeda Sanctions List.

“The assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 2 of Security Council resolution 2253 (2015) no longer apply to the name set out below," read the UN notice on Hekmatyar.

This comes after Hizb-e-Islami last year signed a peace accord with the Afghan government.

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