Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hikmatyar called for peace as he appeared by video to sign a deal with President Ashraf Ghani, marking a symbolic victory in Kabul’s struggle to revive talks with the Taliban.
The deal paves the way for Hikmatyar, who heads the Hezb-i-Islami, one the vital party which resisted against Russian forces during war, but has been in hiding for years, to make a potential political comeback.
“Now is the time for the Taliban to think about whether they want to continue the war or come for peace,” Ghani said as he signed the deal at the presidential palace in Kabul.
On the occasion the security was stringent in the capital, with the road to the palace blocked. Chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, former president Hamid Karzai, delegates from Hezb-i-Islami and other politicians also attended the ceremony.
The deal was struck last Thursday but the government said it would not come into force until it was formally signed by Ghani and Hikmatyar.
Hezb-i-Islami has been largely inactive in recent years, and the deal is not likely to have an immediate impact on the security situation in Afghanistan.
The government took the opportunity last week to renew its offer for peace talks to the Taliban, who have persistently refused to engage in negotiations as they ramp up their nationwide offensive against the Western-backed regime.
