Editing Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (section)

==Activities in the Islamic Republic==
{{see also|War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)}}
After the [[9/11]] attacks in the [[United States]] Hekmatyar, who had allegedly "worked closely" with bin Laden in the early 1990s,<ref>Bergen, Peter L., ''Holy war, Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden'', New York: Free Press, 2001, pp. 70–71</ref> declared his opposition to the US campaign in Afghanistan and criticized Pakistan for assisting the United States. After the [[United States invasion of Afghanistan|U.S. entry into the anti-Taliban alliance]] and the [[Fall of Kabul (2001)|fall of the Taliban]], Hekmatyar rejected the [[U.N.]]-brokered accord of 5 December 2001 negotiated in Germany as a post-Taliban interim government for Afghanistan. As a result of pressure by the U.S. and the Karzai administration, on 10 February 2002 all the offices of Hezb-e-Islami were closed in [[Iran]] and Hekmatyar was expelled by his Iranian hosts.<ref name=Jamestown/>

The United States accused Hekmatyar of urging Taliban fighters to re-form and fight against Coalition troops in Afghanistan. He was also accused of offering bounties for those who kill U.S. troops. He has been labeled a war criminal by members of the U.S.-backed President [[Hamid Karzai]]'s government. ISAF identified Hekmatyar in 2002 as the number one security threat, ahead of the Taliban or [[al-Qaeda]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://users.jyu.fi/~aphamala/pe/2002/afgawhoswho.htm|title=WHO'S WHO IN TODAY'S AFGHANISTAN|website=users.jyu.fi|accessdate=Aug 24, 2021}}</ref> He was also a suspect behind the 5 September 2002 assassination attempt on Karzai in [[Kandahar]] and a [[2002 Kabul bombing|bomb]] the same day that killed more than a dozen people in Kabul.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2239870.stm|title=Attack exposes Karzai's weakness|date=Sep 5, 2002|accessdate=Aug 24, 2021|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/sep/06/afghanistan.rorymccarthy|title=Gunmen try to kill Afghan president|date=Sep 6, 2002|website=the Guardian|accessdate=Aug 24, 2021}}</ref> That same month, he released newsletters and tape messages calling for [[jihad]] against the United States. One of his commanders commented that there "will be suicide attacks [...] against soldiers".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/afghan-group-threatens-attacks-on-us-soldiers-1.438787|title=Afghan group threatens attacks on US soldiers|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|accessdate=Aug 24, 2021}}</ref> On 25 December 2002, news broke that American spy organizations had discovered Hekmatyar attempting to join al-Qaeda. According to the news, he had said that he was available to aid them. However, in a video released by Hekmatyar 1 September 2003, he denied forming alliances with the Taliban or al-Qaeda, but praised attacks against U.S. and international forces.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}

On 10 February 2003, the Afghan government reported that Hekmatyar was planning an alliance with Taliban and al-Qaeda factions. His group was involved in an intense battle with the U.S. army near [[Spin Boldak]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/feb/10/afghanistan.rorymccarthy|title=Old warlord threatens Afghan peace|date=Feb 10, 2003|website=the Guardian|accessdate=Aug 24, 2021}}</ref> On February 19, 2003, the [[United States State Department]] and the [[United States Treasury Department]] jointly designated Hekmatyar a "global terrorist."{{clarify|date=September 2011}}<ref name=Dawn030220>{{cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/2003/02/20/top15.htm|title=US designates Hekmatyar as a terrorist|date=20 February 2003|access-date=2007-03-18|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn Internet Edition]]}}</ref> This designation meant that any assets Hekmatyar held in the U.S., or held through companies based in the U.S., would be frozen. The U.S. also requested the [[United Nations]] Committee on Terrorism to follow suit, and designate Hekmatyar an associate of Osama bin Laden. In October 2003, he declared a ceasefire with local commanders in [[Jalalabad, Afghanistan|Jalalabad]], [[Kunar Province|Kunar]], [[Logar Province|Logar]] and [[Surobi District (Kabul)|Surobi]], and stated that they should only fight foreigners.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} Hekmatyar was classified as a terrorist organization in [[Canada]] in 2005, and is one of two individuals on Canada's list; his party [[Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin]] was added in 2006.<ref name="canada-list">{{cite web|url=https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/cntr-trrrsm/lstd-ntts/crrnt-lstd-ntts-en.aspx|title=Currently listed entities|work=Public Safety Canada|date=21 December 2018 |publisher=Government of Canada|access-date=13 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728171301/https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/cntr-trrrsm/lstd-ntts/crrnt-lstd-ntts-en.aspx|archive-date=28 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2006, he released a video to [[Al Jazeera Arabic|Al Jazeera]] in which he accused Iran of backing the U.S. in the Afghan conflict and said he was ready to fight alongside [[Osama bin Laden]] and blamed the ongoing conflicts in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan on U.S. interference.<ref name=Aljazeera060506>{{cite news|date=6 May 2006|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/4DB6529A-F1FC-43FC-8DB4-482F406D1DCE.htm|title=Aljazeera airs Hikmatyar video|publisher=[[Al Jazeera Arabic|Al Jazeera]]|access-date=2007-03-17|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060517002958/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/4DB6529A-F1FC-43FC-8DB4-482F406D1DCE.htm|archive-date=17 May 2006}}</ref> In an audiotape released the same month, he called for revolt against U.S. forces and Karzai's "puppet government", and directly threatened to kill Lt. General [[Karl Eikenberry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna13068608|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116034616/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna13068608|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 January 2021|title=Afghan warlord urges revolt against U.S., Karzai|website=NBC News|date=31 May 2006 |accessdate=Aug 24, 2021}}</ref> In September 2006, he was reported as captured, but the report was later retracted.<ref name=TheFourthRail>{{cite web|publisher=The Fourth Rail|first=Bill|last=Roggio|date=11 September 2006|url=http://billroggio.com/archives/2006/09/gulbuddin_hekmatyar.php|title=Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Reported Captured|access-date=2007-03-17|archive-date=2007-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214141958/http://billroggio.com/archives/2006/09/gulbuddin_hekmatyar.php|url-status=usurped}}</ref> In December 2006, a video was released in Pakistan, where Hekmatyar claimed "the fate Soviet Union faced is awaiting America as well." In January 2007 CNN reported that Hekmatyar claimed "that his fighters helped Osama bin Laden escape from the mountains of [[Tora Bora]] five years ago." BBC news reported a quote from a December 2006 interview broadcast on [[GEO TV]], "We helped them [bin Laden and Zawahiri] get out of the caves and led them to a safe place."<ref name=Bbc070111>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6252975.stm|date=11 January 2007|title=Afghan warlord 'aided Bin Laden'|publisher=BBC|access-date=2007-03-17}}</ref>

===2008 resurgence===
In May 2008, the [[Jamestown Foundation]] reported that after being "sidelined from Afghan politics" since the mid-1990s, Hekmatyar's HIG group had "recently reemerged as an aggressive militant group, claiming responsibility for many bloody attacks against Coalition forces at the time, primarily the [[International Security Assistance Force]] and the administration of President [[Hamid Karzai]]." The re-emergence of him as an "experienced guerrilla strategist" came at a propitious time for insurgency, following the killing of Taliban commander Mullah [[Dadullah]], when some elements of the Taliban were becoming "disorganized and frustrated."<ref name="Jamestown"/> HIG claimed responsibility for and is thought to have at least assisted in a 27 April 2008 attempt on the life of President Karzai in Kabul that killed three Afghan citizens, including a member of parliament. Other attacks for which it was thought to be responsible included the 2 January 2008 shooting down in Laghman province of a helicopter containing foreign troops; the shooting and forcing down of a U.S. military helicopter in Sarubi district of Kabul on 22 January; and blowing up a Kabul police vehicle in March 2008, killing 10 soldiers.<ref name="Jamestown"/>

In interviews he demanded "all foreign forces to leave immediately unconditionally." Offers by President [[Hamid Karzai]] to open talks with "opponents of the government" and hints that they would be offered official posts "such as deputy minister or head of department", were thought to be directed at Hekmatyar. It was reported in 2008 that Hekmatyar lived in an unknown location in southeastern Afghanistan, close to the Pakistani border.<ref name=Jamestown/> In 2008, he denied any links with the [[Taliban]] or [[al-Qaeda]] and was even considered for prime minister.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/04/AR2008110403604_pf.html |title=Afghan Rebel Positioned for Key Role |newspaper=Washington Post |date=2008-11-05 |access-date=2014-06-20}}</ref> At the time, Hekmatyar was believed to shuttle between hideouts in Pakistan's mountainous tribal areas and northeast Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/01/17/dealing_with_brutal_afghan_warlords_is_a_mistake/ |title=Dealing with brutal Afghan warlords is a mistake |work=Boston Globe |date=17 January 2010 |access-date=2014-06-20}}</ref>

In January 2010, he was still considered one of the three main leaders of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghan insurgency]]. By then, he held out the possibility of negotiations with President Karzai and outlined a roadmap for political reconciliation. This contrasted with the views of Taliban leader [[Mullah Omar]] and allied insurgent chief [[Sirajuddin Haqqani]], who refused any talks with Kabul as long as foreign troops remained in the country, Hekmatyar appeared less reluctant.<ref>{{cite web|last=Trofimov |first=Yaroslav |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704320104575015103412001066 |title=Afghan Insurgent Outlines Peace Plan |work=Wall Street Journal |date=2010-01-21 |access-date=2014-06-20}}</ref>

On 10 February 2014, Hekmatyar's HIG group executed an attack which killed two US civilians, Paul Goins and Michael Hughes, and wounded two other Americans and seven Afghan nationals. HIG was also responsible for a 16 May 2013 suicide VBIED attack in Kabul, which destroyed a US armored SUV and killed two US soldiers, four US civilian contractors, eight Afghans—including two children—and wounded at least 37 others. The attack marked the deadliest incident against US personnel in Kabul in 2013.

===2016 peace deal and pardon===
On 22 September 2016, Hekmatyar was pardoned by the Afghan government as part of a peace deal between Hezb-i-Islami and the government. The deal also allowed for the release of Hezb-i-Islami prisoners and the return of Hekmatyar to public life. The deal led a group of young activists to organise a protest against the pardoning less than a mile away from the signing ceremony. [[Human Rights Watch]] called the deal "an affront to victims of grave abuses".<ref name=butcher>{{cite news|last1=Rasmussen|first1=Sune Engel|title='Butcher of Kabul' Pardoned in Afghan Peace Deal|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/22/butcher-of-kabul-pardoned-in-afghan-peace-deal|work=The Guardian|date=22 September 2016}}</ref> Hezb-i-Islami agreed to cease hostilities, cut ties to extremist groups and respect the [[Afghan Constitution]] in exchange for government recognition of the group and support for the removal of [[United Nations]] and American sanctions against Hekmatyar, who was also promised an honorary post in the government.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/23/world/asia/afghanistan-peace-deal-hezb-i-islami.html|title=Afghanistan Signs Draft Peace Deal With Faction Led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar|date=23 September 2016|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=Bengali, Shashank|author2=Faizy, Sultan|title=Afghanistan Takes a Step Toward Peace With Notorious Ex-Warlord|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-afghanistan-agreement-20160922-snap-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=22 September 2016}}</ref>

The agreement was formalised on 29 September 2016 with both Afghan President [[Ashraf Ghani]] and Hekmatyar, who appeared via a video link in the presidential palace, signing the agreement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/09/afghanistan-ghani-hekmatyar-sign-peace-deal-160929092524754.html |title=Afghanistan: Ghani, Hekmatyar sign peace deal|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=29 September 2016}}</ref> UN sanctions on him were formally lifted on 3 February 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/02/lifts-sanctions-gulbuddin-hekmatyar-170204125508334.html|title=UN lifts sanctions against Gulbuddin Hekmatyar|publisher=Al-Jazeera|date=4 February 2017}}</ref> On 4 May 2017, he returned to Kabul along with his fighters to meet President Ghani after spending two decades in hiding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/hekmatyar-returns-kabul-20-years-hiding-170504145123325.html|title=Hekmatyar returns to Kabul after 20 years in hiding|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=5 May 2017}}</ref>

He has then called on the Taliban to end their insurgency and lay down arms.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-warlord-hekmatyar-returns-kabul/28467563.html|title=Hekmatyar Urges Taliban 'Brothers' To End War, Offers To Mediate Talks|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty|accessdate=Aug 24, 2021}}</ref> Hekmatyar ran in the [[2019 Afghan presidential election]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-election-idUSKCN1PD0DU|title=Former Afghan warlord Hekmatyar enters presidential race|newspaper=Reuters|date=Jan 19, 2019|accessdate=Aug 24, 2021|via=www.reuters.com}}</ref> and finished a distant third.