KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani has issued a nine-article decree on implementation of his government’s peace agreement with the Gulbadin Hekmatyar-led Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) group and appointing a commission.
The government and the HIA inked the historic deal last month, when Ghani signed the deal and Hekmatyar affixed his signature to the document via a video link into the presidential palace.
A statement from the Presidential Palace said: “Article first, the President, as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, directs the country’s all security forces --- air, ground, artillery, commando and border -- to stop hitting HIA’s  positions, centres and bases.”
In its article two, the president decree has tasked the leadership of the security organs --- the interior and defence ministries and the spy service --- with launching a comprehensive investigation in consultation with the HIA into specifying areas where HIA fighters are based in order to effectively enforce the ceasefire and avoid any untoward incident.
Article three says “Until the HIA armed individuals register their arms with the government in line with the recruitment plan and the reintegration process completes, the Afghan security forces should fully support the HIA forces if they come under attack from armed opponents.”
Article four asks military and police zonal commanders and intelligence operatives to increase by a degree their preparedness so that the international terrorism does not take advantage of the opportunity.
Article five: Ministries, government departments and governors should carry out their meetings and consultations with HIA commanders and individuals in accordance with the signed agreement.
Article six: On registering their weapons with the government under an organized plan and the collections become part of Baitul Mall as part of the reintegration process, the Afghanistan armed forces are responsible to protect lives and properties of HIA armed individuals like other residents as per the law.
Article seven: Both the sides are fully bound to enforce the ceasefire and any violation of the ceasefire and misuse will be investigated in accordance with the law and the violators will be dealt with legally. HIA members and supporters have equal rights and responsibilities like other countrymen before the law.
Article eight: The Afghanistan security forces leadership is directed to fully coordinate with foreign forces in implementation of the peace agreement’s content.
Article 9: Monitoring of this decree’s implementation is responsibility of the Director of the General Staff of the Ministry of Defence and to explain guidelines under the framework of a specific procedure. (Pajhwok)