The Afghan New Beginnings Programme aimed to disarm, demobilise and reintegrate thousands of combatants from the Afghan Militia Forces/ Afghan Army and provide them opportunities to join the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police or an alternative line of work. The government of

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bord ...

and the ANBP estimated that there might be 100,000 former combatants who could be integrated into

civilian Civilians under international humanitarian law are "persons who are not members of the armed forces" and they are not " combatants if they carry arms openly and respect the laws and customs of war". It is slightly different from a non-combatan ...

life. The Canadian government has said that the mission was completed in July 2005, with 63,000 soldiers have been captured and integrated into civilian life. There are still an estimated 40,000 soldiers who are loyal to Mohammed Fahim. The pilot phase of the operation began on 24 October 2003 and focused on Kunduz Province, Gardez, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Kabul. The United Nations said on 4 January 2004:

The Ministry of Defense held a disbandment parade yesterday afternoon on the outskirts of Kabul. 326 soldiers from the 8th Division of the National Guard took part in the ceremony. This is a continuation of the pilot phase of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration.. which began in Kabul on 9 December when 182 soldiers from the 2nd Division of the National Guard were disarmed. Today, these soldiers will be disarmed at Khair Khana Kottel, north of Kabul on the road leading to the Shomali Plains.

Later Bamyan Province was included. On 4 July 2004 disarmament began in Bamiyan, and on 15 July 2004 disarmament was continuing in Bamiyan including soldiers from the 34th and 35th Divisions of the then Afghan Army, often referred to as the Afghan Military or Militia Forces. The deputy chairman of the commission responsible for the disarmament program is Afghan Urban Development Minister

Yousuf Pushtun Yusuf ( ar, يوسف ') is a male name of Arabic origin meaning "God increases" (in piety, power and influence).From the Hebrew יהוה להוסיף ''YHWH Lhosif'' meaning "YHWH will increase/add". It is the Arabic equivalent of the Hebrew name ...

. The senior DDR advisor from the

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan ('UNAMA'') is a UN Special Political Mission tasked with assisting the people of Afghanistan. UNAMA was established on 28 March 2002 by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1401. Revie ...

(UNAMA) is Sultan Aziz. The total budget for the DDR process is estimated at US$200 million, of which only $41 million had been secured by phase one, including $35 million from the Japanese government.

Children and conflict in Afghanistan

The programme also aims to demobilise and reintegrate thousands of child combatants in

. Many boys in Afghanistan were born into war. They have never known peace, but instead have encountered

banditry Banditry is a type of organized crime committed by outlaws typically involving the threat or use of violence. A person who engages in banditry is known as a bandit and primarily commits crimes such as extortion, robbery, and murder, either as ...

and murder. The programme is funded by

UNICEF UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid t ...

References

* International Crisis Group (ICG), Afghanistan: Getting Disarmament Back on Track, Kabul: ICG, 2005 *http://www.diis.dk/files/media/documents/publications/rp2006-7web.pdf - DIIS report on DDR in Afghanistan *http://www.ddrafg.com *https://www.dvidshub.net/news/358/kabul-heavy-weapons-under-ministry-defense-control - cantonment of heavy weapons of 8th Division AMF, Kabul, 9 September 2004 Military of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Society of Afghanistan 2000s in Afghanistan Military disbanding and disarmament {{Afghanistan-mil-stub

Children and conflict in Afghanistan

See also

References