Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Former Afghan Warlord, Emerges as Rare Critic of Taliban Rule

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former Afghan warlord and prime minister, has emerged as a rare critic of the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan. Despite facing a crackdown from the Taliban authorities, including a ban on his mosque speeches, eviction from his home, and the removal of his party's TV channel from the air, Hekmatyar has continued to make public calls for elections and girls' education, which are taboo demands under the current Taliban administration.

Hekmatyar, who left Afghanistan when the Taliban first came to power but returned in 2017, commands crowds as the chief of his Hezb-e-Islami radical party, though analysts doubt the sincerity of his speeches and believe he has little chance of rallying nationwide popular resistance. The Taliban government has accused Hekmatyar of violating the law by using the name of his party, and the Justice Minister has told him that he should have left if he did not like the Taliban's victory.

While Hekmatyar's past actions, including civilian massacres and assassinations, have been criticized, his current willingness to speak out against the Taliban authorities makes him a unique figure in Afghanistan, where most opposition has been muted. Analysts suggest there is a divide within the Taliban on how to manage Hekmatyar, with the Kabul-based officials opposing the views of the Taliban supreme leader in Kandahar.

Why this matters: Hekmatyar's criticism of the Taliban's policies, particularly on issues like women's rights and elections, is seen as a significant challenge to the group's authority. His actions are viewed as an attempt to position himself and attract the attention of the international community, which has not yet recognized the Taliban government.

Hekmatyar's willingness to criticize the Taliban officials makes him a unique figure in today's Afghanistan, where nearly all opposition has been muted. "Hekmatyar's criticism has triggered a response from the Taliban, who have accused him of violating the law by using the name of his party," according to the summaries. The Taliban authorities have taken steps to silence Hekmatyar, including banning his mosque speeches, evicting him from his home, and pulling his party's TV channel off the air in Kabul.

Key Takeaways

• Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former Afghan warlord, criticizes Taliban's rule in Afghanistan.
• Hekmatyar faces crackdown from Taliban, including banning his mosque speeches and eviction.
• Hekmatyar calls for elections and girls' education, which are taboo under Taliban.
• Taliban accuses Hekmatyar of violating law by using his party's name, wants him to leave.
• Hekmatyar's criticism seen as challenge to Taliban's authority, attempt to attract int'l attention.