Thursday, April 21, 2005
Two ex-Taliban officials join Afghan reconciliation process
Associated Press
Kandahar, April 21, 2005
Two former Taliban leaders have returned to Afghanistan under a government-backed reconciliation drive, an official said Thursday, a boost to the U.S. military's effort to undermine a stubborn insurgency.
Mullah Mohammed Nazim and Mullah Akhtar Mohammed, one-time provincial officials, returned from Pakistan on Wednesday, Mohammed Wali, spokesman for Helmand provincial government, told The Associated Press.
Both swore allegiance to Afghanistan's new constitution at a ceremony in Laskhar Gah, the Helmand capital, and were allowed to return to their homes, Wali said.
"This will give more Taliban the confidence to take advantage of the government's offer,"Wali said in a telephone interview. That offer is vague: the government says that former Taliban fighters are free to return to their homes except for an undisclosed list of Taliban leaders, including fugitive supreme leader Mullah Mohammed Omar and those accused of atrocities.
Afghan and American officials insist that many ex-Taliban fighters have expressed interest in laying down their arms and returning to Afghanistan in return for freedom from prosecution, though few have come forward publicly.
Wali said Nazim had served as governor of Zabul, a former Taliban stronghold and a focus of insurgent operations since U.S. forces drove the hardline militia from power in 2001, and as a military commander in northern Sar-e-Pul province.
Mohammed had been police chief in western Farah province, Wali said.
The official declined to comment on whether the pair had been involved in militant operations since 2001.
"It was difficult for them to come home, but now the problems have been solved," Wali said.
© HT Media Ltd. 2004.