Reintegration of five Taliban commanders in Qala-i-naw

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QALA-I-NAW, Afghanistan –This morning in the Badghis Provincial Government facilities, former base of Spanish contingent- has been held the official ceremony of the incorporation to the peace program of 42 Taliban, including their commanders, who have decided to lay down their arms after many years of fighting .

The event was attended by the head of the PRT, Col. Felix Cortijo Eugenio Garcia, the Provincial Governor, Jam Arman and other local authorities

These insurgents were belonging to the Tazeh Mullah Gol (7), Mulla Jabar (7), Mullah Amanolah (8) and Mullah Maluk (10) groups operating in the Murghab valley, an area controlled by the Spanish Combat Out Post placed in Darra-i-Bum, those to who have joined another 10 men from the town of Ghare Ghal (Qades), belonging to the Mullah Najmedin group.

All of these combatants have fled their homes fearing reprisals for their willingness to lay down their arms. Their families were forced to flee along with them, in most of cases walking with nothing but their clothes and anything to survive.

The Spanish contingent has offered the aid of 600 kg flour, 600 kg rice, 600 l oil, six tents, 200 mats, 400 blankets, six stoves and about $1000 for the transport of this material, all to alleviate possible shortages of means that families of the just reintegrated could find.

This step forward of these Taliban commanders opens a door to hope for more than 80 youths from these families, still living in the area, to follow the footsteps of their elders and not to go swelling the ranks of Taliban.

The Afghan Government Peace Program, which advises and supports Spain, is an ambitious plan that aims to encourage the abandonment of weapons of the insurgency, facilitating, through various programs, their reintegration into Afghan society.

Badghis is one of the provinces with the highest number of Taliban who have laid down their arms.

 Story by: Lt. Col. José María Rivera Moreno
Regional Command-West Public Affairs

Posted in: Afghanistan