Militant group joins peace process in Baghlan

KABUL): A 14-member militant group, including its leader, joined the peace process in northern Baghlan province on Saturday, an official said.

Led by Mullah Din Mohammad, the group, which remained active against the government and foreign troops in Baghlan-i-Markazi district, promised to help maintain security in their respective areas.

Provincial police chief, Brig. Gen. Abdul Rahimi, hoped their surrender would help improve the security situation besides boosting the peace drive in the areas where the militants had been active.

“We cooperated with the Taliban for a year, but now we want to help the government against them,” said Mohammad Azam, one of the group members.  He asked the government to recruit them into Afghan police. 

In response to the demand, the police chief said the surrendering fighters would be given a chance to serve the country by providing them with jobs in security forces.

Two months back, a top Taliban commander joined the peace process along with his 21 fighters in the province. However, the former fighters say their lives are under threat.

They have repeatedly urged the government to take measures for their security after several surrendering insurgents were killed at the hands of their former comrades.

So far three former Taliban commanders have been killed in Kunduz.  The dead included Maulvi Sahib district on May 9.

Before being killed, Nabi had asked the government to provide him protection against the Taliban, but his demand was not met.

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