URUZGAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN – The Afghan government and security officials joined forces to distribute supplies to recently reintegrated Taliban members in Khas Uruzgan district, Uruzgan province, March 4.
Abdul Samad, a former Taliban commander, and several of his former fighters, received supplies as part of the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Program, a nation-wide Afghan program that provides insurgents an opportunity to peacefully and permanently rejoin their communities with honor, dignity and forgiveness.
Earlier last month, Samad and 12 of his fighters laid down their weapons during a ceremony at the provincial governor’s compound to signify their first step in the peace process.
Samad plans to use material from the supply distribution to improve security checkpoints in his village. The distribution is an example of the district’s support to the APRP.
“The people should trust the Afghan government here,” said Abdul Halim, the Khas Uruzgan district governor. “That’s why it’s good for the people to see us helping people who become part of the peace process.”
Halim joined the district’s Afghan Local Police commander, Afghan National Army special forces soldiers and the deputy district chief of police, to assist Samad and his fighters in loading the supplies.
“I’m very happy with all the things that went on today,” Samad said. “All these items benefit my area and my people.”
Afghan government leaders hope more insurgents take notice of Samad’s example and recognize the benefits of becoming part of the peace process.
“This is very important for us,” said the deputy district chief of police. “The enemy sees people are coming over to our side, and it demoralizes them. For those who come over to our side, they become very happy because we support them.”
Samad’s village exemplifies the kind of results obtainable by denouncing the insurgency and reintegrating into Afghan society through the APRP.
“I’m very happy with the program, and I’m looking forward to the future,” said Samad. “People from my village were initially very upset with my decision, but now that the process has been going on for a while, people realize it’s [reintegration] for the betterment of the village. The security of the village will be better because of the reintegration process.”
In addition to the security brought to the people of his village, Samad has experienced less personal hardships since reintegrating.
“A lot of my problems have disappeared,” Samad said.
He said between fighting coalition forces and receiving threats from other members of the Taliban, he was under a lot of pressure as a Taliban commander.
“It’s a lot of weight off of my shoulders, because I only have to worry about facing the Taliban.”
Samad sees initiatives like the supply distribution as a tangible example of the Afghan government’s commitment to the peace process and improving the lives of the people of Afghanistan.
“We’re here to better our area and the living standards of our people,” Samad said. “I would tell other Taliban leaders they do the exact opposite of that and to stop using Jihad as an excuse to ruin people’s lives, as well as their own,” Samad added.
Samad and district government officials are currently discussing possible improvement projects in his village and the surrounding area as the government continues to work alongside Samad and his former fighters through the reintegration process.
| Date Taken: |
03.04.2012 |
| Date Posted: |
03.12.2012 04:58 |
| Story ID: |
85080 |
| Location: |
URUZGAN PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: |
44 |
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