Editing Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (section)

==CIA Connections During the Soviet-Afghan War==
Hekmatyar’s most significant international connection came during the Soviet-Afghan War, when the CIA, as part of [[Operation Cyclone]], funneled extensive support to Afghan mujahideen to counter Soviet occupation. Operating through Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the CIA provided weapons, funding, and training to various resistance groups. Hekmatyar’s Hezb-e-Islami became one of the largest beneficiaries of this aid, reportedly receiving a disproportionate share—estimated at up to 20–30% of the total U.S. aid, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in weapons, including Stinger missiles, and financial support.
The CIA’s preference for Hekmatyar stemmed from his group’s organizational discipline, his anti-Soviet zeal, and his alignment with Pakistan’s ISI, which favored him due to his Pashtun background and Islamist ideology. Based in Peshawar, Pakistan, Hekmatyar used CIA-supplied resources to build a formidable fighting force, establishing training camps and launching attacks against Soviet and Afghan communist forces. His charisma and strategic acumen made him a key U.S. ally during this period, with the CIA viewing him as a reliable partner in their Cold War proxy conflict. However, reports indicate that Hekmatyar’s group also engaged in brutal tactics, including attacks on rival mujahideen factions, which raised concerns among some U.S. and Pakistani officials.