WorldKABUL, REUTERS -Afghan president Ashraf Ghani formalized a controversial accord with one of Afghanistan's most notorious warlords on Thursday, a deal the government hopes will lead to more peace agreements. “With this agreement, I hope to put an end to the current crisis in the country,” Hekmatyar said in his message. “We hope that the day comes when foreign interference has ended, foreign troops have departed fully from Afghanistan, and peace has been achieved,” Hekmatyar said. His faction of Hezb-i-Islami has played a relatively small role in the current conflict, in which the Taliban have a leading role in battling the Western-backed government in Kabul. But government officials hope the accord will be a first step toward eventually making similar peace deals with the Taliban and other groups.

Source: Sunday Times September 29, 2016 10:52 UTC