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. 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.