KABUL: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani issued an ultimatum to the Taliban on Tuesday, warning them to embrace peace or `face consequences` after announcing that the death toll from last week`s devastating truck bombing in Kabul had passed 150.

President Ghani made a strong plea for peace at an international conference on Afghanistan attended by around two dozen countries, which was held under tight security as armoured vehicles patrolled the streets and fighter jets roared over the capital.

`We are offering a chancefor peace but this is not an open-ended offer, he said.

`Time is running out...

this is the last chance: take it or face consequences.

The conference, labelled the `Kabul Process`, aims to build international support for ways to restore se curit y in Afghanistan.

`We are a nation of survivors. Terrorists can shed our blood but they cannot break our will,` the Afghan leader said.

Ghani also offered the Taliban the opportunity to open a representative office, adding that he was flexible about the location of future tall(s.

The Taliban responded to the conference by firing a rocket at what they claimed was Nato`s headquarters. It landed inside the Indian ambassador`s residence and no one was hurt.-AFP