Small Wars Journal

Coming in From the Cold

Wed, 12/21/2011 - 4:26am

A group of 50 militants in Kandahar join peace process

by Ghanizada

Khaama Press

A group of at least 50 militants led by Haji Moalim Saheb joined the Afghan reconciliation program in southern Kandahar province following peace talks efforts by the tribal elders.

The militant group fighters were carrying out anti-government activities in Maiwand and Pajwai districts of southern Kandahar province.

The militants who joined the reconciliation program had served in the central jail of southern Kandahar province and a number of them had served in jail in capital Kabul in the past who joined the militants group after they were freed from the prison.

In the meantime provincial governor Toryalai Wesa and Afghan high peace council chief for southern Kandahar province Ata Mohammad Ahmadi vowed to arrange better living conditions for those who joined the peace process.

The commander of the surrendered militants group Haji Moalim said, the group was plotting and conducting insurgency activities against the NATO-led foreign and Afghan forces in Kandahar city, Pajwai and Maiwand districts.

He also said, his fighters were also conducting insurgency activities in Kajaki, Mosa Qala, Sangin and Greshk districts of southern Helmand province.

He said, they joined the reconciliation program after they were urged by their other accompanions who had previously joined the peace process.

This comes as a number of Taliban militanats have recently joined the reconcilation program in southern Kandahar province which includes a number of key Taliban militant commanders.

Meanwhile a spokesman for the Taliban militants group Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said, the surrendered individuals are not the Taliban fighters and are the local militia groups operating in the region.