Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hezb-e Islami, has travelled to Malaysia for medical treatment, sources told Afghanistan International. The trip marks his first known foreign travel since the Taliban allegedly imposed restrictions on his movements last year.
According to the sources, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim personally invited Hekmatyar. They said Ibrahim has admired Hekmatyar since the years of the anti-Soviet jihad and had extended invitations to him several times in the past, with this visit now finally taking place.
Sources added that the Taliban did not block Hekmatyar’s travel this time, and he is expected to meet the Malaysian prime minister during the visit.
On 12 October, Hekmatyar’s son, Habiburrahman Hekmatyar, said the Taliban had banned his father from foreign travel and claimed the group “feared” his public meetings, viewing them as a threat.
Associates of the Hezb-e Islami leader said Hekmatyar and Anwar Ibrahim maintain a friendly relationship. They added that a delegation representing the Malaysian prime minister visited Kabul several months ago and that the Taliban initially prevented the delegation from meeting Hekmatyar, but later allowed the meeting “due to the negative consequences of this obstruction.”
After the Taliban seized power, Hekmatyar’s Kabul residence, allocated to him by the former government, was reclaimed, and Barya TV, his affiliated broadcaster, was shut down. The Taliban have since banned all political parties and movements, including Hezb-e Islami.
Over the past four years, Hekmatyar has repeatedly criticised Taliban policies and challenged the legitimacy of the group’s leadership, including that of its supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
