A former warlord branded the “Butcher of Kabul” returned to the Afghan capital Thursday, met by uneasy residents two decades after leaving the city where he stands accused of killing thousands of people. As it progressed through the capital’s main thoroughfares he was joined by hundreds of cars ferrying people waving flags, singing the national anthem or chanting “Welcome to Kabul, Honourable Hekmatyar” in Pashto. Hekmatyar is the latest in a series of controversial figures that Kabul has sought to reintegrate by granting judicial immunity for past crimes, and many residents called for him to apologise and be prosecuted. Hekmatyar first returned to public life on Saturday at a gathering in Laghman province, two hours east of Kabul. After his return to the capital on Thursday he travelled to the presidential palace to meet and shake hands with President Ashraf Ghani.

Source: Dhaka Tribune May 04, 2017 12:11 UTC