Hezb-e Islami

Hezb-e Islami
Name	Hezb-e Islami
Native name	حزب اسلامی
Leader	Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
Foundation	1976
Ideology	Islamism, Deobandi, Anti-communism
Headquarters	Kabul
Country	Afghanistan

Hezb-e Islami. Hezb-e Islami is a prominent Islamist political party and former mujahideen faction in Afghanistan, founded in 1976 by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. It played a central role in the Afghan jihad against the Soviet occupation and the subsequent communist government in Kabul. Following the fall of the communist regime, the party engaged in a brutal civil war against rival factions, contributing significantly to the destruction of Kabul and paving the way for the rise of the Taliban. In the post-2001 invasion era, it has operated both as a political entity and an insurgent force, eventually signing a peace agreement with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in 2016.

History

The party was established by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar after a split from the Jamiat-e Islami led by Burhanuddin Rabbani, with its early base among students at Kabul University. During the Soviet–Afghan War, it became one of the most effective and heavily funded mujahideen groups, receiving substantial support from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and the Central Intelligence Agency. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the capture of Kabul in 1992, Hezb-e Islami fought against the Islamic State of Afghanistan government in the Afghan Civil War (1992–1996), notably shelling Kabul and causing widespread casualties. After the Taliban seized power in 1996, Hekmatyar fled to Iran, but the party later re-emerged as an insurgent force opposing the ISAF and the Karzai administration.

Ideology and objectives

The party's ideology is rooted in a strict, revolutionary interpretation of Sunni Islam, heavily influenced by the Deobandi school and the writings of Abul A'la Maududi. Its core objective has been the establishment of an Islamic state in Afghanistan governed by Sharia law, positioning itself as a vehement opponent of secularism, communism, and Western influence. This ideological stance made it a natural adversary of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan and later placed it in conflict with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's constitution. The group's rhetoric has consistently emphasized jihad and resistance, first against the Red Army and later against what it termed the "American invasion" and its allied Kabul administration.

Organizational structure

Historically, the organization has been highly centralized under the autocratic leadership of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who maintained control over political, military, and financial affairs. Its structure included a central shura (consultative council) and various committees overseeing military operations, logistics, and political outreach. During the mujahideen era, its military wing was organized into several fronts and commands across provinces like Nangarhar, Kunar, and Logar. The party also maintained a sophisticated intelligence apparatus and relied on a network of madrasas and mosques for recruitment and ideological indoctrination, particularly in the Pashtun heartlands along the Durand Line.

Military activities

During the Soviet–Afghan War, its forces were known for effective guerrilla tactics, including ambushes against Soviet convoys and attacks on government installations in cities like Jalalabad. In the Afghan Civil War (1992–1996), it conducted sustained artillery and rocket bombardments on Kabul, targeting areas controlled by the Jamiat-e Islami and Abdul Rashid Dostum's Junbish-i Milli. After the United States invasion of Afghanistan, its reconstituted militant wing, known as Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin, conducted insurgent operations against NATO forces, including improvised explosive device attacks and ambushes in provinces such as Kapisa and Wardak. These activities continued until the 2016 peace deal, though splinter factions have remained active.

Political activities and governance

Despite its militant history, the party has also engaged in political processes. It participated in the 2005 Afghan parliamentary election, winning several seats in the Wolesi Jirga. Following the 2016 peace agreement negotiated with Ashraf Ghani's government, Hekmatyar returned to Kabul and the party formally joined the political mainstream, receiving official recognition and government positions. The accord, brokered with support from Qatar and Pakistan, granted Hekmatyar amnesty and allowed the party to operate openly, though it struggled to translate its insurgent credibility into broad electoral success against established parties like the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan.

International relations and designation

The group's international relations have shifted dramatically over decades. During the Cold War, it was a key beneficiary of support from the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan as part of the anti-Soviet alliance. However, after the September 11 attacks, the U.S. Department of State designated Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2003, with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar placed on the Specially Designated Global Terrorist list. The United Nations Security Council also added him to its sanctions list. The European Union and several other nations followed with similar designations, which were only reviewed following the 2016 peace agreement, though residual sanctions on some elements remain.

Category:Political parties in Afghanistan Category:Islamist groups in Afghanistan Category:Mujahideen factions