Former Afghani Premier To Return From Emigration

Former Afghani Premier Gulbudin Hekmatiar living in Teheran in emigration is going to come back home soon to participate in the military operations on the Taliban side. Hekmatiar, who has headed the Islamic Party of Afghanistan (IPA), did not recognize president Rabbani's arbitrary decision to prolong his term of office, quitted the government and launched armed struggle against it. However, he had to emigrate after a number of defeats. "The Taliban have received strikes, but they hold on. The American bombing has only strengthened their positions," said Hekmatiar in an interview with the UAE Al-Khalij newspaper. The former-premier also pointed out that Washington pinned its hopes on the Northern Alliance, but "they are good for nothing". According to the paper, Hekmatiar arrived at this decision after lengthy talks with the Taliban representatives who promised him the provinces of Kunar, Nangrahar, and Lagman and seats in local authorities in some other provinces as a quid pro quo for IPA gunmen's fighting on the Taliban side.