President Ashraf Ghani and his Turkmenistan counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow on Thursday signed a “Strategic Partnership Agreement” in Ashgabat where both countries pledged to expand bilateral relations on a number of key areas including economy, trade, transit and joint efforts towards fighting terrorism.

Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who is also running for president in July 20 elections, on Thursday said the planned consultative Loya Jirga on peace will not help resolve the stalemate in Afghanistan.