PESHAWAR, Dec 1: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the chief of his own faction of Hizb-i-Islami, has called for the formation of a neutral caretaker government to hold elections in Afghanistan. The former Afghan prime minister has also proposed withdrawal of foreign forces in phases.

A statement issued by a close associate of Hekmatyar in Peshawar on Saturday welcomed the Japanese government’s decision to withdraw troops and asked Nato member states to follow suit.

The statement said in the first phase, foreign troops should leave major cities and shift to the garrisons. In the second phase, they should leave the country.

Mr Hekmatyar, who is wanted by the US government, said that his faction was ready for cooperation with other parties to initiate political process and restore peace to the country. He said that after the formation of the caretaker government, an independent commission should be constituted to hold free and fair elections.

“The Hizb-i-Islami can maintain peace in several provinces, including Noristan, Baghlan, Zabul, Kandoz etc.” The statement said if some groups insisted on the presence of foreign troops after the withdrawal of Nato, some Muslim countries’ troops could be deployed for a limited period.