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Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Three commanders voluntarily surrender their weapons to DIAG in Gardez

Kabul - June 13th, 2006 - On June 14th three former Jehadi Commanders from Gardez - Zaherullah, Attaullah and Fareed , will surrender over 40 light and heavy weapons and a track load of ammunition to the DIAG* weapons collection team. The ceremony will take place at 2:00 pm. in the Governor's Residence in Gardez. The weapons will be further transferred to the Pol-i-Charki central weapons collection point for use of the Afghan National Army (ANA) or Afghan National Police (ANP). The ceremony will be attended by a high level delegation from Kabul.
By voluntarily surrendering their weapons, the Commanders are not only complying with the Gun Law regulating the possession of weapons in Afghanistan, but also actively supporting the DIAG programme, a process which is intending to consolidate peace, rule of law and prosperity in Afghanistan.

The DIAG process was launched on 11June, 2005 when officially announced by Vice President Khalili. So far, 22,896 weapons as well as 21,467 pieces of boxed and 191,760pieces of unboxed ammunition have been handed over to and verified by ANBP collection teams in Afghanistan. 4,857 of the collected weapons have been handed over by 124 candidates to the parliamentary and provincial council elections

*DIAG: Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups

Media Contact

Ariane Quentier - Joint Secretariat Communications Advisor, 070 166 911
Email: aquentier@anbpafg.org / arianequentier@compuserve.com

Ezatullah Shamszai - Joint Secretariat Public Information Officer, 070 602 504
Email: info@drcs.org.af/ shamszai2005@hotmail.com

Ahmad Jan Nawzadi - spokesperson of Joint Secretariat of DIAG , 070 22 74 17
Email: anawzadi@anbpafg.org / ahmad_jan40@hotmail.com

Website www.diag.gov.af