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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Former Taliban Members Returning to Normal Life |
| 2004-02-15 |
| Zainulabuddin was one of many young Afghans who got caught up in the Taliban movement when the militia ruled most of the country from 1996 to late 2001. However, the 25-year-old says he has put his past firmly behind him. Zainulabuddin lives with his wife and child in the village of Chanjir in southern Helmand Province. He says he is satisfied with his new lifestyle and cannot dream of ever supporting the Taliban again. "We like the current government because this government does not put pressure on anyone. Factories and facilities are functioning, and roads are being built. It means this is a good government. Once the Taliban were gone, I resumed my schooling. After school, I work in my small store selling spare car parts," Zainulabuddin said. .... Former Taliban fighters who have decided to take up civilian life do so quietly. Fearing prosecution and harassment, most of them try to remain silent about their pasts. While Afghan mujahedin -- factional fighters from anti-Taliban groups -- are offered retraining for civilian jobs under a special UN-sponsored program for disarmament, demilitarization, and rehabilitation, former members of the Taliban have no such support network and must fend for themselves. Mullah Mohammad Khaksar served as deputy interior minister for the ousted Taliban regime [and now says:] "I would say some 50 percent of the former Taliban have come back home and taken up civilian life. They are confident that no one will bother them. This optimism and their return is a result of the amnesty given by Afghanistan’s transitional president." .... Ahmadullah, a fellow resident of Kandahar, [says:] "People do not support the Taliban because they don’t have good memories from Taliban leaders or the rest of the group. If Kandahar residents find out that a group of former Taliban fighters is based somewhere, I think 98 percent of people would help to detain the Taliban and hand them over to authorities," Ahmadullah said. Recently, some tribes in Afghanistan’s southern regions -- including the large and influential Zadran tribe -- decided that if any member of their tribe is found to be supporting the Taliban, his house will be set on fire and he will be expelled from his village. |
| Posted by:Mike Sylwester |
| #1 Congratulations Zadranian tribe. For your wisdom. Thanks for telling go to hell to the destructive ugliest and siding with the constructive and helping people. You know, even the dirty capitalists can sell you nothing if you have no money. So, keep up with good works and you will prosper. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2004-2-15 6:15:29 PM |