1st LD: Afghan gov't, dissident group sign peace deal

The Afghan government signed a peace deal with Hizb-e-Islami, a militant group led by Gulbudin Hekmatyar on Thursday, in an effort to boost peace and national reconciliation in the militancy-hit country.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani signed the much awaited deal at a ceremony attended by ranking officials and supporters of Hizb-e-Islami held in Arg, the country's Presidential Palace on Thursday morning.

Hekmatyar signed the agreement, which was brokered by Afghan High Peace Council after years of negotiations, via a video conference broadcasting during the event.

The faction of Hizb-e-Islami, designated by the United States in a terrorist list, has been fighting the government and U.S.-led foreign forces stationed in Afghanistan over the past 15 years.

According to the 25-point peace agreement, the group will declare permanent ceasefire and the Afghan government will work to delist Hekmatyar's name from the the list of terrorist outfits.

The Afghan president told the audience that the peace deal with Hizb-e-Islami is based on the country's constitution and the two sides were committed to working for peace, stability and reconstruction of the country.

The Afghan leader also called on other armed groups fighting the Afghan government to join the peace process and solve their problems through negotiations and peaceful means.

This is the first peace agreement inked by the Afghan government with an armed opposition group since the overthrowing of the Taliban regime in late 2001.

On Sept. 22, the draft peace deal was signed by Mohammad Amin Karim, head of Hizb-e-Islami delegation and Pir Sayed Ahmad Gilani, chief of the government-backed peace body, the High Peace Council in Kabul. Endit