*KABUL – Former warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar entered Afghanistan’spresidential race on Saturday in a new challenge to President Ashraf Ghaniwho allowed him to return from exile two decades after he was forced out bythe Taliban.*

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar led fighters during the civil war of the 1990s and hasremained a divisive figure since his return from exile in 2016.

His decision to contest the presidential polls in July is seen by analystsas the ex-warlord’s attempt legitimize his Hizb-i-Islami party.

In 2003, the US State Department listed him as a terrorist, accusing him oftaking part in and supporting attacks by al Qaeda and the Taliban. ButWashington later welcomed Ghani’s decision to sign a peace deal withHekmatyar.

In 2016, President Ghani’s government granted immunity to Hekmatyar but theformer warlord has been critical of his administration and theparliamentary election process in 2018.

Announcing his candidacy, Hekmatyar pledged to restore peace and securityand said the current government had failed to end the war with the Taliban.

“Our country’s situation requires a powerful central government lead by anelected president supported by the majority of people,” he told a newsconference in Kabul.

The July election faces serious security challenges with the Talibanthreatening large parts of the country.