Afghan Warrior

Afghanistan launched a new phase of disarmament to disarm militia, ordering more than 1,000 illegal armed groups to hand over their guns as the country prepares for its first parliamentary election in September. According to the Afghanistan New Beginning Program (ANBP), this process is unconditional and all militia forces that are not part of the Afghan National Army and other government organs should surrender their light and heavy weapons before the parliamentary election. US and NATO troops will be involved and cooperate in the latest phase of disarmament. Disarmed fighters in the latest phase of the disarmament program will not receive cash or other concessions. Fighters disarmed in the first phase were given money and were trained by short-term courses to open a new livelihood and most of them have entered into civilian life.

Most of the militia forces were disarmed in the first phase of the disarmament program but up to 1,800 small illegal armed groups remain and most of the groups have between 100 and 200 men which will be disarmed in the new phase of the disarmament drive. Over 60,000 ex-militia, warlords and Mujahideen have been disarmed in the first phase of the disarmament program. Afghanistan New Beginnings Program (ANBP) recorded the number of disarmed men at 60,076 of which 49,431 have returned to civilian life. Around 33,500 medium and light weapons have been collected from military units and less than a third of those weapons were transferred to the Afghan Ministry of Defence and the Afghan National Army. All usable ammunition has been transported to safe storage.

Afghan people welcome the second phase of disarmament and hope that all illegal militia forces will be disarmed before the parliamentary elections. Some people fear that some illegal armed man will create problems and might force people to vote for some of their commanders during the election. Afghanistan's electoral law prohibits any candidate with links to armed militias from standing for parliament and provincial councils. It's difficult to know which candidates command armed men.