KABUL - At a meeting with the High Peace Council Chairman (HPC) Pir Sayed Ahmad Gillani, President Ashraf Ghani thanked them for their efforts in getting Hizb-e-Islami to sign last week's peace agreement, Ghani's office said in a statement.
At the meeting Ghani said: "We always said that we don't want peace from others and we believe in an Afghan-owned reconciliation" adding that "signing of the peace agreement with Hizb-e-Islami was a big step."
"We have showed Afghans and the world that we have the will and the commitment for legal peace with dignity; and the national and international community strongly supports the Afghan-owned reconciliation (process)," he said.
Ghani stressed that "successful reconciliation with Hizb-e-Islami was a good beginning and we will continue this process."
He said: "We support the agreement and the implementation of it."
Meanwhile, Gillani said that the HPC is working on a basic strategy for all insurgent groups to join the peace process.
"We are also considering holding a national conference on peace in the future," he said.
On Saturday, the Presidential Palace said that government will uphold its side of the peace agreement signed this week.
"The executive committee from government and Hizb-e-Islami will follow all contents of the agreement," Ghani's deputy spokesman Shahussain Murtazawi said at a press conference.
Meanwhile, the second deputy of the CEO, Mohammad Mohaqiq, said it is a good opportunity for the Hizb-e-Islami leader to return to the country.
"I am not aware whether the Hizb-e-Islami leader will return or not, but peace means that he can indeed return," he said.
However, the head of Hizb-e-Islami delegation, Amin Karim, said Hekmatyar will not return until his name has been removed from the UN's blacklist.
"Logic does not allow the return of the leader of Hizb-e-Islami until bans on him are lifted," Amin stated. (Tolonews)