Former Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar appeared in public for the first time in more than 20 years today and called for peace. He appeared in a gathering organised by provincial officials in eastern Laghman province in which locals and government officials were also present. <br/><br/>He called on all insurgent groups to end the war and join the peace process in Afghanistan. <br/><br/>Hekmatyar battled US forces after the 2001 invasion and nursed bitter rivalries with other militant factions before signing a peace deal with the Afghan government. <br/><br/>'''''<br/><br/>