KABUL - The 'Hezb-i-Islami of Afghanistan (HIA), led by former prime minister Gulbadin Hekmatyar, on Saturday extended good wishes to new High Peace Council Chairman Salahuddin Rabbani.
Hours earlier, Rabbani was appointed as head of the council to replace his father, Prof. Burhanuddin Rabbani, who was assassinated in a suicide attack on his Kabul residence on September 20.

A presidential aide said Salahuddin's appointment came after several weeks of consultations between High Peace Council members and President Hamid Karzai.

He was sworn in at a ceremony, attended by Vice President Mohammad Qasim Fahim, lawmaker Abdul Rab Rasul Sayaf and other jihadi leaders. All participants reposed confidence in Salahuddin, with Karzai hoping the appointment would ensure national unity.

A five-member HIA delegation that arrived in Kabul on Saturday began talks with Afghan officials on how to bring peace and stability to the country.

Delegation head Dr. Ghairat Baheer, in an exclusive talk with Pajhwok Afghan News, prayed for the success of Salahuddin. "The Hizbi Islami wishes him success in his mission to bring disgruntled brothers to the negotiation table."

The delegation met with some members of the High Peace Council, 2nd Vice President Mohammad Karim Khalili and other influential figures, Karzai's spokesman Aimal Faizi said. (Pajhwok)