Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA), a political party established in 1975 which had boycotted the two previous presidential elections in 2004 and 2009, has reportedly entered a process of negotiation with the two possible presidential candidates-Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, to explore the options for future co-operation in Afghanistan.
Led by Engineer Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, HIA is seeking an enhanced political role in the post-Nato Afghanistan by joining the new government, reported The Express Tribune.
The party, which was formed to combat communism in Afghanistan, had boycotted the last two presidential elections because of the presence of foreign troops. However, it did vote in the April 5 election with a view to seek a political role in the future.
A HIA leader said that the party has laid down its conditions but no consensus has been reached so far. The party has demanded a withdrawal of all foreign troops, enforcement of Islamic system in Afghanistan and a promise that the new government will not sign the controversial security pact with the U.S. that will allow some its troops to stay in the country after 2014.
HIA's association with the new government may further isolate the Taliban, the report added.
