Afghan government inks deal with Islamist warlord

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Afghan government has signed a peace agreement with Hezb-e-Islami, the country's second largest militant group, according to BBC News.

Representatives of the movement and Afghan officials signed the accord in a ceremony shown live on TV.

The deal grants impunity to the group's leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, an Islamist warlord accused of numerous atrocities.

He was not present at the signing, which is intended to pave the way for him to return from hiding to Kabul.

Mohammad Amin Karim, head of the insurgent delegation, was present at the ceremony.

He said: "This is not just a peace deal between Hezb-e-Islami and the government of Afghanistan, it is a beginning of a new era of peace all around the country."

Under the terms of the deal, Hekmatyar agrees to accept the constitution and abandon violence. He must still sign the accord with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani for it to come into force.

The two sides have still to agree when and where that will happen.