Taleban defectors 'are rejoining insurgency' [View All]

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Source: Times Online

From Times Online
April 22, 2010
Taleban defectors 'are rejoining insurgency'
Jerome Starkey, Kabul

Almost a quarter of the low-ranking Taleban commanders lured out of the insurgency in southern Afghanistan have rejoined the fight because of broken government promises and paltry rewards, a scathing report on reintegration claims.

Nato plans to spend more than $1 billion (£648 million) over the next five years tempting Taleban foot soldiers to lay down their arms.

But research by a Kabul-based thinktank warns that those efforts could make matters worse by swelling the ranks of the insurgency, exacerbating village level feuds and fuelling government corruption.

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Reports of millions of dollars available to lure these people out of the fight risks tempting more people to join the insurgency – albeit temporarily – to benefit. Meanwhile, loyal government supporters “may become resentful, even hostile, if they see resources being channelled to anti‐government groups”.

Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/afghanistan/article7104508.ece