Afghan New Beginnings Programme

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

The Canadian Government has said that the mission was completed on July 2005, although only 50,000 soldiers have been captured and integrated into civilian life. There are still an estimated 40,000 soldiers who are loyal to General Muhamod Fahim.

The pilot phase of the operation began on 24 October 2003 and focused on Kunduz Province, Gardez, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Kabul. Later Bamyan Province was included.

The deputy chairman of the commission responsible for the disarmament program is Afghan Urban Development Minister Yousuf Pushtun.

The senior DDR advisor from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (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 Afghanistan. Many boys in Afghanistan were born into war. They have never known peace, but instead have encountered banditry and murder. The programme is funded by UNICEF.

See also

• Military use of children

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