Former commanders give up their weapons for development

23 Feb 2010

Former commanders give up their weapons for development

23 February 2010 - Former mujahideen commanders continue to lay down their arms in the hope to get more development in their area.

 

Seven former commanders handed over their weapons to the provincial authorities in Bamyan province in return to get more development projects in their district.

The district of Kahmard, in the north of Bamyan, was declared as a peaceful district or a district free of illegal arms through the DIAG (Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups) campaign.

“We have given up our weapons and we hope to get more development,” said Mawlavi Ismael, a former mujahid in Kahmard.

DIAG is a Government of Afghanistan-led programme, which is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other international donors.

Some 94 light and heavy weapons were collected from these former commanders in Kahmard district.

“We had to fight for our land and for our honour, but now the time has come to put down our arms and help the Government build our town,” Ismael added.

The weapons were handed to the provincial Governor in a ceremony in the district centre, where hundreds of community elders gathered to witness the process.

“Today we are announcing Kahmard as a peace district. We are planning to announce Bamyan a province free of illegal armed groups very soon,” said Dr Habiba Sarabi, Governor of Bamyan province.

Bamyan province has six districts and a provincial capital. According to DIAG officials, Kahmard is Bamyan’s fifth district that has been declared free of arms and work is ongoing to soon declare the rest of the districts free of illegal weapons.

“Many projects are underway in Kahmard in (areas of) health, education, agriculture and other sectors,” pledged Dr Sarabi.

DIAG officials say that extra funding is allotted for peace districts for development projects.

Yones Afshar, head of the UNDP’s DIAG project in Bamyan, said that once a district is declared peaceful, then, according to the district’s development priority, the District Development Assembly selects a project which is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development.

“We did the same for other four peace districts in Bamyan,” said Mr Afshar.

For Mawlavi Ismael and other former commanders - who have never seen a paved road and public electricity in their province - road and electricity is the biggest need of the hour.

Ismael is happy with the promise made by provincial authorities to increase development work. But one thing always bothers him and his former Mujahideen friends: “We don’t understand, our province is the most peaceful in the country, but why is it also one of the least assisted?”

By Jaffar Rahim, UNAMA

Website: UNDP
Website: MRRD