A top Hizb-e-Islami negotiator on Tuesday called on the U.S to remove the name of its reconciled leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar from its blacklist, saying Washington was supposed to lift sanctions within five days after the United Nations removed his name from their list.  
 
“The government also pledged that once the United Nations Security Council lifted sanctions against the leader of Hizb-e-Islami, four or five days later, the U.S would also announce the lifting of sanctions against the leader of Hizb-e-Islami and the party itself; however this commitment so far has not been achieved,” said Hizb-e-Islami spokesman Nadir Afghan.
 
Meanwhile, Hizb-e-Islami has rejected media reports that Hekmatyar was reportedly hospitalized in Turkey.
 
According to Hizb-e-Islami officials, Hekmatyar is in the country and will arrive in Kabul soon.
 
On Monday, a Turkish newspaper claimed Hekmatyar was in hospital in Istanbul.
 
The newspaper, Aydinlik, quoted a Turkish intelligence source as saying Hekmatyar is being treated at an Istanbul hospital. No details were however given.
 
“Hizb-e-Islami leader does not have any health issues and he is currently in Afghanistan, the reports about his health are baseless; and the trip by the Hizb-e-Islami delegation to Turkey was a friendly trip,” said Afghan.
 
Meanwhile, the High Peace Council (HPC) said that many of Hizb-e-Islami’s operatives are willing to denounce violence and lead a peaceful life in some provinces.
 
“The situation indicates that a number of Hizb-e-Islami operatives could join other groups including the Taliban, but when a process becomes successful, the (Hizb-e-Islami) operatives will not join other groups, instead they will join the peace process,” said HPC chief in Kunduz Habibullah Muhtashhim.
 
Political analysts have urged the Afghan government to take steps to get the peace process back on track and to take fresh steps to persuade the Taliban to join the negotiations.  
 
“There is a need to mount more pressure on the Taliban so that they are persuaded to join the peace process,” said university lecturer Hikmatullah Shahbaz.