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Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Political leaders and Afghan government renew commitment to implementation of DIAG

Arg, Kabul- 22 November 2006: H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, chaired a special meeting this morning on the implementation of the Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups (DIAG) programme at the Presidential Palace.

The meeting was attended by Ahmad Zia Massoud, First Vice President, Ustad Burhanuddin Rabbani, Ustad Abdul Rab Rasoul Sayyaf, Pir Sayed Ahmad Gilani, General Abdul Wali, Hedayat Amin Arsala, Senior Minister, Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zarrar Ahmad Muqbel, Minister of Interior, Deputy Minister of Defence, Dr. Zalmai Rasoul, National Security Advisor, Dr. Farouq Wardak, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Head of the Office of Administrative Affairs, Deputy Director of NDS, Ambassadors of the United States and Japan, EU and UN Representatives, David Richards, Commander of NATO-ISAF.

In the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Deputy Head of the Demobilisation Commission presented a detailed report on the implementation of the DDR and DIAG programmes and the challenges ahead. Jihadi political leaders and senior Government authorities discussed the progress of DIAG and renewed their full support and commitment for its implementation.

Attendees emphasized the disbandment of such groups and the need to focus attention on the livelihoods of those individuals who go through DIAG, saying "It's an essential national process that is supported by the people. Afghanistan won't achieve security until all illegal armed groups are totally disbanded.

Representatives of the international community, Jihadi political leaders and the Afghan Government reiterated their support for the DIAG programme and agreed to gain the support of the Afghan Parliament for its implementation.

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Released by the Office of the Spokesman to the President
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Ahmad Razi
Public Relations Officer
Office of the Spokesman to the President of Afghanistan
Presidential Palace, Kabul, Afghanistan
Email: ahmad_ct@yahoo.com
ahmad.razi@afghanistangov.org
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