KABUL, 2 October 2003 — Foreign peacekeeping troops should be deployed throughout Afghanistan to support a vital drive to disarm and demobilize some 100,000 militiamen, the International Crisis Group think-tank said yesterday.
“This disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process must succeed if the shattered country is ever to achieve an acceptable level of stability,” the ICG warned in a report on the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) program.
“For DDR to be implemented successfully on a nation-wide scale, the presence of a neutral armed force is critical.”
The ICG’s calls echo those of Afghan leaders, the United Nations, neighboring Pakistan, and aid organizations, who say violence from resurgent Taleban forces and clashing warlords’ militias is hindering the war-shattered country’s recovery and risks turning popular support toward extremists.
The United States and Germany have given their backing to calls for the NATO-led peacekeepers to be deployed beyond their current confines of Kabul.
The ICG warned Afghanistan’s embryonic army and police force was not ready to take charge of security across the country to support the disarmament program, which is due to be launched Oct. 25.
“The UN Security Council should, therefore, authorize NATO, which has taken over responsibility for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul, to move out to the main provincial centers and assist (DDR) implementation,” it said.
Use Own Currency: Afghans should use their own Afghani currency in daily transactions rather than US dollars or Pakistani rupees, central bank governor Anwar Ul-Haq Ahadi said yesterday. “Starting Oct. 8, all prices in the market should be specified in Afghanis. Those people who do not have Afghanis can exchange at the market rate,” he told reporters. Ahadi said people could still pay in dollars or other currencies but all prices should be in Afghanis.
