JAWZJAN, Afghanistan -- Ethnic Turkmens in Afghanistan support the September 29 peace agreement between the Afghan government and the Gulbuddin Hekmatyar-led Hezb-e-Islami (HI) party, Baimyrat Goyunly, a former governor of Jawzjan Province, told the Turkmen service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) last week.
The Turkmen community decided to support the peace pact "at a recently held council of [ethnic] Turkmens", Goyunly told RFE/RL.
Ethnic Turkmens constitute the fifth largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, according to official data. They have formed various anti-Taliban militias in the northern provinces.
