KABUL: After more than 40 years at war, one of Afghanistan's most notorious warlords, designated a "global terrorist" by the United States (US) and blacklisted by the United Nations (UN) along with Osama bin Laden, wants to come out of the shadows. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, now in his late 60s, says he wants a "real and fair peace" but with conditions the Kabul government is unlikely to even contemplate, such as the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan and new elections in 2016. The remarks reflect Hekmatyar's attempt to assert influence and gain new leverage in Afghan politics, but what role — if any —the once feared warlord could play is unclear....
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