Today the Afghan authorities signed a long-expected peace deal with a party led by one of the country's most notorious Islamist warlords. The ceremony was broadcast live on television in the presence of the Ahman Gilani, the Kabul's High Peace Council, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, national security adviser and Amin Karim, representative of Hekmatyar who was not present at the signing. To bring the agreement into force it has to be signed by the President Ashraf Ghani and Hekmatyar later on. The deal grants Hekmatyar amnesty for the past offences, release of certain Hezb-i-Islami prisoners and the pressure of Kabul's government onto lifting of international sanctions on Hekmatyar. It would allow him to stop hiding and to make a political comeback.

The success of signing the agreement marks a symbolic victory for the Afghani president who was struggling for years to revive peace talks with the dominant opposition armed group Taliban. While many government officials see the accord as a step towards peace, the Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah is more reserved about the agreement of such prominence. 

Lots of human rights organizations also loudly criticize the deal with a leader who is accused of serious human rights violations. On the contrary, the United States welcome such an agreement with a statement of the US Embassy saying that the deal: "Is a step in bringing the conflict in Afghanistan to a peaceful end." 

Who is Gulbuddin Hekmatyar? 

He was accused of serious human rights violations during the civil war in the 90s when there was a struggle for control over the Kabul and his forces were blamed for bombing the Afghan capital and committing numerous atrocities against civilians. 

In 2001 when the US forces helped to overthrow the Taliban, Hekmatyar fought back against the US and the Western-backed Afghan government and was found responsible for the several deadly bombings. In 2003 his name was added on the list of officially designated terrorists.

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