Afghan Taliban cadres are being paid over $150 a month for desisting from action and will be allowed to keep their weapons as part of a new initiative to end the insurgency in Afghanistan, a British media report said on Monday. The “reintegration” programme, which has the full support of NATO, is intended to keep them from attacking troops of the US-led NATO and ISAF, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Those who have attacked and killed British forces are also given an amnesty, meaning they will not be put on trial. The amnesty extends to all Taliban fighters, including those involved in atrocities, such as killing children, beheadings or hanging women. The agreement is part of a policy signed by the British government in which insurgents are being allowed to “walk off the battlefield” and enter a “reintegration” scheme. Instead of interrogating members of the Taliban joining the programme, they are asked to fill up a questionnaire to seek from them their reasons for joining the insurgency.
