Afghan rebel's pledge to al-Qaeda

[bigfootedfred]

Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar says that he is ready to fight under the banner of al-Qaeda,
according to a video broadcast by al-Jazeera TV.
"We hope to participate with them in a battle that they lead.
They hold the banner and we stand alongside them as supporters," he said in the video.

The rebel warlord is classified as a terrorist by the United States.
He is opposed to the central government of Hamid Karzai and urges war against foreign troops in Afghanistan.
Mr Hekmatyar was Afghanistan's prime minister from June 1993 to June 1994. His faction, the Hezb-e-Islami, helped end the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

source

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar was/is the Leader of the Hezb-e Islami,
Which was the largest Rebel group during the soviet invasion/occupation.
How significant is this?
Or was it just merely done for propaganda purposes?

[Perikles]

Probably done for Propaganda puposes, but any major pledge to al-Qaeda is never a good thing. I doubt it will have any serious effect on things though.