News Analysis: Will Hekmatyar's return to Kabul bring peace in Afghanistan?

Gulbudin Hekmatyar, leader of Afghanistan's Hizb-e-Islami, or Islamic Party, returned to Kabul earlier this month, ending decades of exile and fighting against the government, a move that many expect to bolster peace and national reconciliation in the militancy-plagued country.

In his maiden address after returning to Kabul at a ceremony held in Presidential Palace, Hekmatyar lashed out at war as an instrument to claim the lives of more Afghans. "My sole aim is to see peace in Afghanistan and anyone wants peace in the country I would cooperate to end the war," he said.

Once a strong advocate of armed opposition against government and the U.S.-led coalition foreign forces in Afghanistan, Hekmatyar also described Taliban fighters as "brothers" and called on them to join the peace process, and "test the peace once" to end the excuse for the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has also welcomed Hekmatyar's return to Kabul and called upon Taliban insurgents to "follow Hekmatyar's step and initiate dialogue with government for returning lasting peace in Afghanistan."

Nevertheless, Afghan political observers believe that Hekmatyar's return would have little impact on ending the war and bringing lasting peace in the country.

"Unlike Taliban and the Islamic State group, Hekmatyar does not have fighting force to fight government, therefore his return to Kabul has little impact on ending the war and bringing peace," renown political and military expert General (Rtd) Attiqullah Omarkhil told Xinhua on Friday.

However, Omarkhil was hopeful that Hekmatyar's return to Kabul and welcome by the government could encourage some Taliban fighters to follow suit and join the government-initiated peace process.

Hekmatyar was dubbed "butcher of Kabul" by many Afghans for his active involvement in factional fighting in the 1990s. In his address, he urged his compatriots to "forget the past" and work for stabilizing peace and security in the war-battered country.

Hekmatyar inked a peace agreement with the Afghan government in September 2016 to give up fighting and join Afghan politics.

His return to Kabul has triggered mixed reactions from Afghans as his supporters accorded hero welcome to him; while his critics demanded his prosecution for his involvement in factional fighting and alleged killing of countless people including civilians.

Taliban militants who denounced Hekmatyar for joining the peace process as "submission" to Afghan government, have intensified activities elsewhere in the country and have overrun at least two districts over the past 10 days.

Although Hekmatyar's return to Kabul and his joining to peace process has no impact on ending the war and encouraging Taliban to give up fighting and follow the step, it could be regarded a good omen for engaging more militants to peace process in the country, another analyst Nazari Pariani said. Endit