Ghani meets Hekmatyar on peace process

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani met with Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan leader GulbuddinHekmatyar at the residence of former President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday.

A statement from the Presidential Palace said the meeting took place late on Tuesday night.

The statement added that important national issues, especially peace, were discussed during the meeting.

It said President Ghani listened to the leaders' advice on strengthening national consensus and lasting and just peace and discussed future steps.

HIA leader Hekmatyar's relations with the government have been strained and he has always been critical of President Ghani and the government, but relations between the two sides have improved over time.

President Ashraf Ghani has recently met with a number of political leaders to build a national consensus on peace.

Bk/ma