Hezb-e Islami

Hezb-e Islami is a Sunni Islamist organization founded by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar in 1975, with roots in the University of Kabul and influenced by Muslim Brotherhood and Jamaat-e-Islami. The party's initial goal was to overthrow the Daoud Khan regime and establish an Islamic state in Afghanistan, similar to the vision of Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran. Hezb-e Islami received significant support from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and Saudi Arabia, which also backed other mujahideen groups, including Jamiat-e Islami led by Burhanuddin Rabbani and Junbish-e Milli led by Abdul Rashid Dostum. The organization's activities have been closely tied to those of other Islamist groups, such as Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, with whom they share ideological similarities and have cooperated in various jihad efforts, including the Soviet-Afghan War.

● History

Hezb-e Islami was formed in 1975 by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a Pashtun engineer and Islamist activist, who had previously been involved with the Muslim Youth Organization and had ties to Jamaat-e Islami and Muslim Brotherhood. The party's early history was marked by its involvement in the Saur Revolution and the subsequent Soviet-Afghan War, during which it received significant support from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and Saudi Arabia, as well as from other mujahideen groups, including Jamiat-e Islami and Junbish-e Milli. Hezb-e Islami played a key role in the Battle of Jalalabad and the Siege of Khost, and its fighters were also involved in the Battle of Hill 3234 and other skirmishes against Soviet and Democratic Republic of Afghanistan forces. The organization's relations with other jihadist groups, such as Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, have been complex and have involved both cooperation and conflict, including during the Civil War in Afghanistan (1992-1996) and the War in Afghanistan (2001-present).

● Ideology

Hezb-e Islami's ideology is rooted in Islamism and Pashtun nationalism, with a strong emphasis on the establishment of an Islamic state in Afghanistan based on Sharia law. The party's ideology has been influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood and Jamaat-e Islami, as well as by the ideas of Ayatollah Khomeini and other Islamist thinkers, such as Sayyid Qutb and Abul A'la Maududi. Hezb-e Islami's vision for Afghanistan is similar to that of other Islamist groups, including the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, with whom they share a commitment to jihad and the establishment of a global Islamic caliphate. The organization's ideology has also been shaped by its opposition to communism and secularism, as well as by its support for Palestinian nationalism and other Islamist causes, including the Iran-Iraq War and the Bosnian War.

● Organization

Hezb-e Islami is led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who has been the party's leader since its founding in 1975. The organization has a complex structure, with a central leadership council and a network of regional commanders and fighters, including Pashtun and other ethnic groups. Hezb-e Islami has also established ties with other Islamist groups, including Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, as well as with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and other external supporters, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The organization's activities have been focused primarily in Afghanistan, but it has also been involved in jihadist efforts in other countries, including Pakistan, India, and Central Asia, and has ties to other Islamist groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

● Military Activities

Hezb-e Islami has been involved in numerous military activities, including the Soviet-Afghan War and the Civil War in Afghanistan (1992-1996). The organization's fighters have been involved in battles against Soviet and Democratic Republic of Afghanistan forces, as well as against other mujahideen groups, including Jamiat-e Islami and Junbish-e Milli. Hezb-e Islami has also been involved in the War in Afghanistan (2001-present), and its fighters have clashed with International Security Assistance Force and Afghan National Army forces, as well as with Taliban and other jihadist groups. The organization's military activities have been supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and other external backers, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and have involved cooperation with other jihadist groups, such as Al-Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

● Political Involvement

Hezb-e Islami has been involved in Afghanistan's political process, including the Bonn Agreement and the Afghanistan Constitution. The organization's leader, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, has been a key figure in Afghan politics, and has served as Prime Minister of Afghanistan and Minister of Justice. Hezb-e Islami has also been involved in negotiations with the Afghan government and the Taliban, including the Doha Agreement and other peace talks, and has ties to other Islamist groups, such as Jamiat-e Islami and Junbish-e Milli. The organization's political activities have been focused on promoting its Islamist agenda and establishing an Islamic state in Afghanistan, and have involved cooperation with other jihadist groups, including Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

● Controversies

Hezb-e Islami has been involved in numerous controversies, including human rights abuses and terrorist attacks. The organization has been accused of committing atrocities against civilians, including massacres and forced disappearances, and has been linked to Al-Qaeda and other jihadist groups. Hezb-e Islami's leader, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, has been designated as a terrorist by the United States and other countries, and the organization has been subject to sanctions and other forms of international pressure, including from the United Nations and the European Union. The organization's activities have also been criticized by other mujahideen groups, including Jamiat-e Islami and Junbish-e Milli, and have been the subject of controversy within Afghanistan and the broader Muslim world, including among Islamist scholars and activists, such as Abdullah Azzam and Omar Abdel-Rahman.