Reintegrating Taliban Fighters in Afghanistan

Even with an agreement between the United States and the Taliban uncertain for now, an eventual intra-Afghan peace process will still need to address many critical challenges—including the reintegration of former fighters and their families. Life in a post-settlement Afghanistan could involve an estimated 60,000 full-time Taliban fighters returning to civilian life. There may also be efforts to demobilize other armed groups that have been fighting the Taliban. And if ex-combatants are not accepted by their communities or are unable to find a new livelihood, they may be vulnerable to recruitment by criminal groups or terrorist organizations like the Islamic State.

To address this vital but often overlooked issue and assist U.S. policymakers and agencies as they craft an approach to reintegration, the office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has produced the agency’s seventh “Lessons Learned” program report.

Please join USIP and SIGAR for the official launch of “Reintegration of Ex-Combatants: Lessons from the U.S. Experience in Afghanistan.” The event will include a keynote address by Special Inspector General John Sopko, followed by a panel discussion on the report’s findings and recommendations—both for the ongoing insurgency and for a post-settlement Afghanistan. Join the conversation with #SIGAR.

Speakers:

John Sopko, keynote address

Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction

Kate Bateman

Project Lead for Reintegration, Lessons Learned Program, SIGAR

Erica Gaston

Non-Resident fellow, Global Public Policy Institute

Timor Sharan

Deputy Minister for Policy and Technical Affairs, Independent Directorate of Local Governance

Johnny Walsh

Senior Expert, Afghanistan, U.S Institute of Peace

Scott Worden, moderator

Director of Afghanistan and Central Asia Programs, United States Institute of Peace

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The United States Institute of Peace is an independent national institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical, and essential for U.S. and global security. USIP pursues this vision on the ground in conflict zones, working with local partners to prevent conflicts from turning to bloodshed and to end it when they do. The Institute provides training, analysis, and other resources to people, organizations, and governments working to build peace.