KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday officially introduced Mohammad Karim Kahlili, a former vice president to ex-president Hamid Karzai, as the new head of the Afghan High Peace Council (HPC).
The newly appointed HPC Chief Khalili said the peace facilitating body so far has failed to make a breakthrough in the process and that the integration of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of Hizb-e-Islami, in the peace process has not reduced the scale of violence in the country.
However, he hailed the peace accord recently signed between the Afghan government and Hekmatyar and said it was a step forward.
According to Khalili, joining the peace process does not mean surrendering, but it is a positive deal.
“The High Peace Council as a platform for peace should pursue the establishment of peace; so far the HPC has not made a breakthrough in this respect due to uncertainties. Although we have still not witnessed the reduction of violence in the country, the peace agreement with Hizb-e-Islami is a good achievement for the Afghan government and people,” said Khalili.
Khalili also suggested some inclusive reforms be put in place in the peace council to make it more effective in its efforts to boost the process.
“No doubt,  a big part of the achievements depend on reforms and changes need to be made in strategy, policy and mechanism of the council,” Khalili added.
Khalili was sworn in as the new chief after the council ran without a leader for a few months following the sudden death of it former chief Sayed Ahmad Gailai.  (Tolonews)