Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Calls for Jihad

Feb 12, 2026 February 12, 2026 1 min read 📰 VOA Persian

📋 Key Takeaway

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has declared jihad against the Afghan government and U.S. forces, marking a significant escalation in his opposition. This announcement follows his previous similar statements and raises concerns about his potential connections to terrorist groups. The situation is critical as it reflects ongoing instability in Afghanistan and the challenges faced by the Karzai government.

🔍 Quick Context Guide

💡 Bottom Line: Hekmatyar's jihad declaration signifies a troubling escalation in Afghanistan's conflict landscape.

👥 Key Players

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar MENTIONED

Leader of the Islamic Party of Afghanistan

"Hekmatyar is a prominent figure in Afghan politics and has a history of militancy, making his calls for jihad significant in the context of ongoing conflict in Afghanistan."

Hamid Karzai MENTIONED

Former President of Afghanistan

"Karzai's government is the target of Hekmatyar's jihad call, representing the established political authority in Afghanistan."

U.S. Forces MENTIONED

Military presence in Afghanistan

"The U.S. military's role is crucial in stabilizing Afghanistan, and their presence is a point of contention for various militant groups."

📰 What Happened

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has publicly called for a jihad against the Afghan government led by Hamid Karzai and the American military presence in Afghanistan. This marks a significant escalation in his opposition and raises concerns about his potential ties to terrorist organizations.

Hekmatyar previously served as Afghanistan's Prime Minister.
He has been linked to bombings in Kabul and has survived an assassination attempt.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: Hekmatyar's activities could influence Iran's security concerns, especially given his previous expulsion from Iran for similar rhetoric.

🌍 Regional: The call for jihad may exacerbate tensions in Afghanistan and could lead to increased violence, impacting neighboring countries.

🌐 International: The U.S. and its allies may need to reassess their strategies in Afghanistan in light of Hekmatyar's resurgence and potential connections to terrorist groups.

📚 Background

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is a veteran warlord with a long history of conflict in Afghanistan, and his calls for jihad reflect ongoing resistance against the Afghan government and foreign forces.

Afghan War Taliban resurgence

📡 Source: NEUTRAL

📊 Confidence: 70%

The information appears to be reported from a neutral standpoint, but the context of Hekmatyar's previous statements should be considered.

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of the Islamic Party of Afghanistan, has called for a jihad to overthrow Hamid Karzai's government and expel American forces from Afghanistan. Hekmatyar, who has previously served as Afghanistan's Prime Minister, made this call in a recorded message in Pashto sent to Pakistani media late on Tuesday. Last year, while Hekmatyar was in Iran, he sent a similar message to the media, which led to his expulsion from the country by the Iranian government. International peacekeepers in Afghanistan suspect that the bombings in Kabul may be the work of Hekmatyar's group and suggest that he may have connections with remnants of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Hekmatyar denies these accusations. This Afghan warlord survived an assassination attempt in May when U.S. intelligence agents fired missiles at him from a drone.