(MENAFN- Khaama Press) The history between Pakistan, particularly the
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Directorate, and Gulbaddin Hekmatyar date
back to 1973 when the Afghan President Daud initiated cracking down on the
Islamist leaders and compelled them to exile. Hekmatyar was among the rebels
who were received by the Zulfiqar Bhutto government as 'state guests' and
received training, logistics and monetary assistance from the ISI which valued
them as strategic assets against the nationalist policies and expansionist
aspirations of Afghan premier, Daud Khan.
During the decade-long resistance against the Soviet invasion,
Hekmatyar along his militant group Hezb-e-Islami remained the most favored
Afghan Mujahideen leader receiving the lion share of money and arms funded by
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and funneled through the ISI. In the
Pakistani intelligence community, Hekmatyar was the chosen one for his
loyalties to the Pakistani designs and objectives in Afghanistan which he
believed would feature him as the sole power bearer. His obsession with power
has continuously kept him closely attached with his sponsors.
The withdrawal of godless Soviets, the collapse of
Najibullah's authority and the ensuing tussle for power among the Afghan armed
groups prompted Pakistan's quest for Strategic Depth, a doctrine of gaining
hold over Afghan territory to enhance the capacity of a prolonged conventional
war against India, expounded by Aslam Beg, the then Chief of Army Staff and
pushed by Hamid Gul, the ISI chief. Strategic Depth required a friendly or to
be precise a puppet regime in Afghanistan and there was no better choice than
Hekmatyar who had already declared his preferences for a confederation of
Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Pakistani military and Intelligence agency threw
their lot in favor of Hekmatyar to subdue the warring rivals and ensure the
establishment of a client regime in Kabul. However, it was not that simple in practice
given the complexity of dynamic involved in Afghan crisis.
The departing time arrived when Hekmatyar failed to realize
the Pakistani expectations: Capture Kabul before others do. Hekmatyar
disappointed his masters by not being able to take control of Kabul. Before
him, Ahmad Shah Masoud, the archrival of Hekmatyar and prominent leader of
Northern Alliance, had successfully breached and controlled the capital,
leaving Hekmatyar helpless outside Kabul. What ensued later attributed
Hekmatyar a globally infamous title, the Butcher of Kabul, and among Afghans he
became known as Pakistan's man. Hekmatyar shelled Kabul with rockets for months
killing 60,000 residents of the capital.
Hekmatyar's inability to capture Kabul led to his separation
with the ISI which had coopted and hired a new client, more ruthless, efficient
and capable to fulfill the orders: the Taliban. The emergence of Taliban and
their successful takeover of power sidelined Hekmatyar who was forced to leave
the country for Iran.
After the events of 9/11, the toppling of Taliban emirate
and the subsequent Taliban resurgence against the US invasion and the newly
established Afghan government, Hekmatyar was once again employed to work in
correspondence with other players for the fulfillment of Pakistani objectives
in Afghanistan. Hekmatyar remained in Pakistan, throughout the War on Terror,
and continuously trained militants in Pakistani safe havens to fight Afghan and
International forces.
In 2017, Hekmatyar acceded to cease hostilities and join the
peace process with the Afghan government. The inclusion of Hekmatyar into the
political process of Afghanistan was a product of compromise and bargain.
Hekmatyar returned to Afghanistan and was welcomed with a sea of supporters. Hekmatyar's
return to Afghan politics was suspected, by many Afghans, another gambit of
Pakistani establishment to enhance their influence and solidify interference on
political sphere. This suspicion was substantiated by Hekmatyar's extremely
pro-Pakistani remarks and public speeches maligning the Afghan democracy and
constitution.
After disappointment on the military front, Hekmatyar faced
the same fate on political front. Hekmatyar, due to his fascination for power
and autocratic nature, has been dealt another blow. Many prominent senior
members of his party and his old entourages decided to leave the party because
of Hekmatyar's centralization of party and decision-making. Moreover,
Hekmatyar's performance in the Presidential Elections was humiliating for him
and his party where he was able to secure only 3% of total votes. Hekmatyar was
quick to deny the results, alleging the elections rigged. To add salt to the
wounds, He will lose one million Afghani as a penalty for his failure to secure
10% votes, as per the regulations of Independent Election Commission. One thing
that is quite clear is the fact that the Afghan masses have explicitly
clarified that they don't support war criminals, warlords and foreign agents
anymore.
This time, Hekmatyar's disappointment might not spare him
for another chance as Pakistan, for many years, has been striving to diversify
the clients and sources to enhance the much sought soft power in Afghanistan.
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