Afghan President Hamid Karzai once again on Sunday called upon Taliban militants to give up militancy and join the peace process.

"I once again call on Taliban to avail the Peace Jirga, lay down arm and join the peace process," President Karzai told an audience of some 500 people in Taliban birthplace Kandahar in south Afghanistan.

He repeated his call in the wake of the recently concluded three-day National Consultative Peace Jirga or assembly which urged both government and anti-government insurgents to halt war and seek negotiated settlement for Afghan problem.

President Karzai and NATO-led forces commander General Stanley McCrhrystal visited Kandahar this morning ahead of launching military operation against Taliban militants in their birthplace Kandahar.

Kandahar has been the scene of increasing militancy since long. A suicide bomber blew himself up to a wedding party on Wednesday night killed and injured over 120 civilians in Arghandab district of Kandahar province.

A major offensive against Taliban militants aimed at ensuring durable peace in Kandahar is expected to be launched in near future.