UN lifts sanctions on Gulbuddin Hekmatyar

AFP, KABUL: The UN Security Council has lifted sanctions on the notorious Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, previously branded “a global terrorist” and accused of widespread human rights abuses.
The move follows a landmark peace deal between Hekmatyar’s insurgent group Hezb-i-Islami (HIG) and the Afghan government in September last year, guaranteeing his amnesty and security despite protests by human rights groups.It was the first such agreement since the Taliban launched their insurgency in 2001, paving the way for the former prime minister’s political comeback after nearly two decades in hiding.
The accord was praised by many foreign governments, including the United States, as a step towards peace in Afghanistan.
A statement on the UNSC’s website Friday said an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo targeting Hekmatyar no longer applied.

 

UN lifts sanctions on Gulbuddin Hekmatyar

AFP, KABUL: The UN Security Council has lifted sanctions on the notorious Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, previously branded a global terrorist and accused of widespread human rights abuses. The move follows a landmark peace deal between Hekmatyars insurgent group Hezb-i-Islami (HIG) and the Afghan government in September last year, guaranteeing his amnesty and security despite protests by human rights groups.It was the first such agreement since the Taliban launched their insurgency in 2001, paving the way for the former prime ministers political comeback after nearly two decades in hiding. The accord was praised by many foreign governments, including the United States, as a step towards peace in Afghanistan. A statement on the UNSCs website Friday said an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo targeting Hekmatyar no longer applied.