Hekmatyar .. watch this space.

Islamabad, 10 January (Asiantribune.com): Afghan rebel leader and chief of Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan Enginner Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has urged all Afghans to continue their fight until all "occupation forces" are "driven out" of the country.

In a message released in Pakistan on in advance of the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Adha which falls on Jan 11, the fugitive rebel commander said the "real Eid" (happiness) would be celebrated when Afghanistan was "free of foreign agents" and would not need to seek foreign assistance or to "bow to others".

In order to achieve this, Hekmatyar said, it was incumbent upon "every Afghan and every Muslim" to engage in jihad (holy war).

"With the Grace of God, Afghans waged jihad against former Soviet Russia for the same sacred purpose. Once again, they have waged jihad against the current US and British-led crusade. God willing, this jihad will continue until all occupation forces are driven out of every corner of the country and an Islamic system is established in Afghanistan in accordance with the people's wishes. God willing, that Eid will also come, and it will come very soon."

In his message, the Afghan former Prime Minister also denounced last year's parliamentary elections in Afghanistan, saying they had been rigged by the US.

He said the aim of the polls had been to hide "colonialist occupation" under "the disguise of democracy". This was designed to establish "an obedient and weak parliament" which would sign "treaties of subjugation".