Japan: World ready to welcome surrendering militants

 

Takachiaddressed a gathering in Tirinkot, the capital of central Uruzgan province, along with Tadamichi Yamamoto, Japan’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

 

The gathering was attended by Uruzgan Governor Mohammad Omar Sherzad, Australian Ambassador to Afghanistan Paul Foley, and Australian special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Ric Smith, besides a number of local and central government officials.

 

“The international community will guarantee the security of militants, including those on the UN blacklist, if they are ready to renounce violence and return to a normal life,” Takachi  said.

 

He said that the international community wants to work with the Afghan government to bring about peace and stability in Afghanistan. He said the peace process would be extended to each village of the country.

 

Sherzad thanked the government of Japan for its assistance in rebuilding Afghanistan and supporting the reconciliation process.

 

He said the peace process is successfully underway in Uruzgan, and that so far 65 militants had joined it.

 

ma/at