KABUL - Second Vice President Sarwar Danish has said the peace deal with Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA), committing the group to cutting ties with militant organisations, was a legal and basic demand of the government and people.
He expressed the view during a meeting with US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson in New York on the sidelines of the United Nation General Assembly’s (UNGA).
Danish praised Washington’s support from the Afghan government and security forces. He asked the US for continued assistance, saying President Ashraf Ghani would visit Brussels at the head of a high-level delegation to attend a NATO conference on Afghanistan.
Ghani would inform the world about his government’s achievements, he said, pledging implementation of the peace agreement with HIA. He welcomed HIA’s assurance to cut ties with militant outfits and dismantle its armed wing.
About Pakistan, he said the Afghan government wanted the US to mount pressure on Islamabad to eliminate terrorist sanctuaries on its soil and bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.
Danish said the electoral reforms had been endorsed by the president, paving the way for the selection committee to elect new election commissioners.
Olson commended the Afghan government efforts for bringing reforms to the election systemand reaching a peace deal with HIA. He complete consistent support and said his country would announce reaffirm its stance at Brussels conference.  (Pajhwok)