Hekmatyar Will Not Join Supreme State Council: Aide

A member of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s Hizb-e-Islami party, Humayoun Jarir, on Tuesday blamed the Presidential Palace for not delivering on its promise about the structure and the authority of the Supreme State Council and said that Hekmatyar will not participate in the Supreme State Council as a member.

“The Arg (Presidential Palace) has not followed through on the promises it made in the trilateral meeting with Mr. Hekmatyar and Mr. Karzai,” said Jarir.

“We believe that the government is forming the council it wants with its supporters among the members. The Hizb-e-Islami party has never been in the government and will not participate in the Supreme State Council,” said Jarir.

Meanwhile, a member of Jamiat-e-Islami (Salahuddin Rabbani faction) has also raised concerns about the authority and structure of the council.

“The efforts that have been made recently were manipulated for personal agendas and political ambitions. Jamiat-e-Islami believes that any council that is formed–its areas of work and authorities must be specified,” said a member of Jamiat-e-Islami (Salahuddin Rabbani faction).

However, the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan led by Marshal Dostum has said that the government has made some commitments to them about the structure and authorities of the council.

“If the government remains committed on what it had pledged before about the structure, which was also leaked in media, and considers balance in the structure, of course, we will support it. If it does not happen, then it will remain incomplete,” said Ehsan Nairo, a spokesman to Marshal Dostum.

According to a document seen by TOLOnews this week, an 18-person list has been prepared for the membership of the Supreme State Council, but the Presidential Palace said it is not final so far. However, sources familiar with the matter said that besides Hasina Safi and Fatima Gailani, three more women will have membership on the council.

The council was supposed to be formed simultaneously with the High Council for National Reconciliation when Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah signed a political agreement last year. But efforts to form the council have been expedited over the last months. As part of these efforts, President Ghani has met with a number of politicians over the last few weeks.