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KABUL (PAN): President Hamid Karzai on Friday renewed his call to Taliban and other militant groups to renounce violence and lay down their arms to rebuild the conflict-hit country.
President made the fresh call in his message marking the religious festival Eidul Azha.
The festival was celebrated across the country to commemorate the great sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS).
In his message to the nation, Karzai urged opposition forces to join the government in its efforts to rebuild the war-battered country.
During his inaugural address after being sworn into the office for a next five years term on November 19, the president said his main objective will be strengthening of conciliation efforts and crackdown on widespread administrative corruption, a pledge widely welcomed by his western backers.
His appeal came two days after the reclusive Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, in a statement ruled out talks with the president and urged Afghans to break off relations with his stooge administration.
"From the Taliban, from Hezb-e-Islami and all our other brothers who stand armed against their country, I hope that for the peace, stability and development of their country, they come back to their homeland, their families," Karzai said.
On Thursday, Hezb-e-Islami chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar said his organization had no personal enmity with any group in Afghanistan and the foreign forces. In a statement issued on the eve of Eidul Adha, Hekmatyar said they believed in resolving the conflict through talks, but insisted on unconditional withdrawal of international troops from the country.
The president offered Eid prayers at the mosque in the highly guarded Presidential Palace, where several high ranking government officials were present.
Karzai greeted the Muslims all over the world, particularly the countrymen on celebration of the religious event.
About the ruling out talks with him by the Taliban leader, Karzai said they would continue to make them calls for establishing lasting peace which was a major demand of the people and key to development and prosperity.
The president also urged upon his presidential rivals Abdullah Abdullah, Ramazan Bashardost and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai to come forward and join hands with government to steer the country out of the persisting crises.
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