Afghan peace council finalizes draft peace agreement with dissident group: official

The government-backed Afghan High Peace Council on Wednesday finalized a draft peace agreement with Hizb-e-Islami, a militant group led by warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, paving the way for reaching a peace deal with the armed outfit, an official statement said.

"The High Peace Council members officially handed over a draft peace agreement to the visiting delegation of Hizb-e-Islami or Islamic Party in Kabul on Wednesday afternoon," Mohammad Khan, deputy to Afghan chief executive, was quoted in the statement as saying.

The radical 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.

Welcoming the step taken by Hizb-e-Islami, Khan said that he was optimistic at reaching a result-oriented deal with the Hizb-e- Islami in near future.

"There were no differences over the 26-article draft agreement between peace council members and visiting delegation of the Hizb- e-Islami, it is an initial step for reaching a peace deal but more work were needed and we are more optimistic now," Khan added.

It is an initial step and the agreement will take effect after the deal is signed by Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and leader of Hizb-e-Islami Gulbudin Hekmatyar, Khan said.

The Hizb-e-Islami is the third-largest militant group after the Taliban and Islamic State (IS) outfits in the conflict-hit country.

Hekmatyar had in the past demanded the complete withdrawal of foreign forces, the formation of a provisional administration and the holding of elections in the country as pre-conditions for peace talks.

However, this time, the outfit has entered the political talks without any preconditions in a bid to reach a peace agreement and bring an end to the protracted fighting.

Some Afghans have welcomed the step taken by Hizb-e-Islami to support the peace talks and boost the national reconciliation efforts in the war-torn nation.

Khan also called on Taliban and other armed groups to renounce violence and join the government initiated peace and national reconciliation process.

(APD)