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2nd LD Writethru: Afghan gov't, dissident group sign peace deal

Xinhua, September 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

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.

"Afghanistan is home for all Afghans. I praise all Afghans, who never lose hope for peace, and I thank them for standing with their government for bringing durable peace in their country," Ghani told the event.

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

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

"The peace negotiations are based on the grounds that the achievements of the past 15 years will be protected. The achievements that gained with a lot of sacrifices and sufferings," he said.

The Afghan leader noted that "We want peace with dignity that our children, boys and girls would have a chance to study and our countrymen, including men and women would have the chance to take part in building of their future and find their own country,"

Ghani described the signing of the agreement as an "initial move to end the decades of flames, and sending up hope that would lead to a broader peace and reconciliation practice."

"I hope the signing of this agreement serves as the beginning for a broader and an overall peace road," he said.

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 list of terrorist outfits.

The Afghan president also echoed Hekmatyar, in calling 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 in Kabul by Mohammad Amin Karim, head of Hizb-e-Islami delegation and Chairman of High Peace Council Pir Sayed Ahmad Gilani.

Government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, parliament Speaker Abdul Raouf Ibrahimi and several Afghan jihadi leaders were among other high-ranking officials attending at the ceremony. Enditem