This is a program which is designed to help bring about peace in that country by reintegrating Taliban fighters back into Afghan society. I have read as much as I can but there is not much to find right now because the program has not been finalized. I do believe that it will be soon because it has been in the works for some time.
This program is being pushed very strenuously by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and seems to be a viable option for the Obama administration. It will in essence provide an end to the fighting between NATO and Taliban forces in Afghanistan, and allow both sides to save face in the process. It actually seems to be a brilliant way to end the fighting in the area.
I believe that part of the reason for this program is that both sides know that they cant actually win no matter how long the conflict drags on. NATO and the US realize by now that the Taliban cant effectively be destroyed or driven out of the region. There is simply too much real estate which needs to be controlled and too many places for the Taliban to hide. Taliban fighters are never in short supply and the original war was not directed at them.
Those of you who follow my blog may remember that I have talked about this program before but at that time it was just a few initiatives put together and not fully thought through. Now there is a draft ready to be finalized, and some of the Taliban fighters seem to be ready to bite off on it. This is significant because it will erode support within the ranks of the Taliban and should work to help weaken its resolve. I believe that after the first few fighters desert the ranks of the Taliban a massive wave of desertions will follow. Sometimes a major movement begins with a small ripple. President Karzai has been negotiating with some high ranking members of the Taliban who have given their input on terms of a peace agreement. If a high ranking Taliban official defects as Im sure the case will be the flood doors will open and more high ranking Taliban officials will defect. Their purpose will be to secure a position of prominence in the new government before all prominent positions are gone.
There are different parts of the plan. The incentives for middle and lower level Taliban fighters will be jobs, educational programs within the new Afghan government, and financial aid. It seems that the incentives for top level Taliban fighters are still being thought through but they may be given amnesty, positions of influence within the Afghan government, or relocated to other countries.
Of course the new Afghan government is not offering incentives without its own demands. Taliban fighters will have to renounce violence, respect the constitution of the new government, and cut all ties with any terrorist networks that they may be affiliated with.
One potential problem will be the protection of the Taliban fighters who defect over to the side of the Afghan government. They will be marked for extermination by hard line Taliban fighters for not being loyal to the cause which will definitely be a cause of major concern. Another question is; how will the civilian population react to them? Remember that the Taliban routinely executes innocent civilians, and will not hesitate to use women and children as human shields. This has definitely been a cause of concern for us and for the civilian population of that country. There is certainly much left over resentment. How will the civilian population display their resentment for the actions that the Taliban has taken on them? I believe that they will display it by striking out at the Taliban fighters who attempt to reintegrate into Afghan society. Military Ring Express