KABUL (SW): President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani called upon armed opponents on Thursday to learn lessons from the landmark peace deal inked between the Afghan government and the Hezb-e-Islami party.
He said this after ratifying the peace deal reached with the HI of the former warlord Gulbudin Hekmatyar. The later joined the ceremony via a video-link from an undisclosed location. Ghani said in his remarks that peace is the ultimate desire of every citizen. He added that the deal with Hekmatyar is based on the Constitution. “Now is the time for the Taliban to think about whether they want to continue the war or come for peace,” Ghani said.
He added that the implementation of the agreement begins with the signing..
Hekmatyar said in his remarks that ensuring peace and bringing an end to the conflict in the country is of pivotal importance. He expressed hope that the peace deal would bring positive change. Hekmatyar urged upon the swift and honest implementation of the peace deal. “I hope implementation of this deal will bring an end to the miseries in Afghanistan”, he said. The former prime minister also urged upon the Taliban to join the Afghan-led peace process.
Urging upon Iran and Pakistan not to persecute the Afghan refugees, he called upon the refugees to return to their home country.
The ceremony was also attended by the former president Hamid Karzai, cabinet members and a number of political figures.
Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said on his term that the deal with Hekmatyar does not violate the rights of the citizens. “This is a major step forward by the National Unity Government for the national interests and peace in the country”, he said. Syed Ahmad Gillani, Chief of the High Peace Council (HPC) made it clear that this process was entirely an Afghan-led process. Gillani also urged upon the armed rebels to shun violence.
ENDS
