–US outlines rehabilitation plan for Afghan Taliban
The United States has offered the Afghan Taliban a comprehensive “safety network” and job opportunities in return for joining the Afghan peace process.
As various world powers, including China and Russia, facilitate efforts to persuade the Taliban into joining the peace process, the United States Defence Department has also outlined a rehabilitation plan for Afghan rebels in what is termed as “new Afghanistan”.
“Although some members of the Taliban may be weary of fighting and ready to lay down their weapons, they will only re-join society if they believe their safety and the safety of their families are guaranteed, and if they have an opportunity to earn enough money to provide for their families,” said a Pentagon report which was sent to Congress, along with proposals for addressing US security concerns, this week.
However, the Pentagon noted that “the Afghan government has not developed a national reintegration programme” despite the programmes that have been developed by the local leaders to offer peace a path.
While the US president is keen on withdrawing US forces from war-torn Afghanistan as part of his electoral promise, the defence department suggests otherwise and stresses upon the need of maintaining enough troops in Afghanistan in order to force Taliban into joining the peace process.
Over the past year, the US and its allies have been using force to drive the Taliban towards a political settlement which, at one point, was not deemed necessary by the American security establishment.
The report further maintained that the selective use of force tempted the Taliban to “accept the Eidul Fitr ceasefire” in June and that there are indicators of the acceptance of a second ceasefire offer although they (Taliban) did not publically accept it.
The Pentagon report also supported the peace process initiated by US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation (SRAR), Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, who held a series of meetings with Afghan Taliban predominantly in Qatar and also in UAE. Khalilzad, in addition to the meetings, also frequently visited Afghanistan and neighbouring states like Pakistan and India.
The report said that “increased military pressure on the Taliban, international calls for peace, and the new SRAR’s engagements appear to be driving the Taliban to negotiations”.
In an unprecedented step, the Pentagon report acknowledged the Taliban control over the large portion of Afghanistan’s rural areas who regularly attack poorly administered government checkpoints.
To ensure the Taliban’s participation in the peace process, the report further suggested the “long-term sustainability of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANDSF)” to “demonstrate the international community’s commitment to Afghan issue”.
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