§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made with the process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration in Afghanistan; and whether this process can be completed by September. [HL3071]
§ Baroness CrawleyThe process of demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of former combatants is under way in five provinces and due to begin soon in a further three. As of 27 May, a total of 6,819 personnel had been demobilised in Kunduz (1,008), Gardez (584), Kabul/Parwan (2,452), Mazar-e-Sharif (1,917) and Kandahar (858). The main phase of the DDR programme now under way aims to disarm about 60 per cent of Afghan military forces by the time of elections scheduled for September.
§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the intention of NATO with regard to the tribal militias in Afghanistan which are outside the DDR process, and in particular, the militias in the Gardez area. [HL3072]
§ Baroness CrawleyNATO is not involved in the DDR process in the regions. This is led by the UN. No militias are exempt from the process. The main phase of the DDR program started in Gardez on 25 May and 35WA a total of 177 personnel had been disarmed by 29 May. The collection of heavy weapons in Gardez has also begun.
§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What agencies control the heavy weapons depots in Afghanistan, established under the cantonment process; what proportion of these weapons have so far been placed in the depots; when the cantonment process will be completed, and what arrangements are being planned for the long term disposal of the heavy weapons. [HL3073]
§ Baroness CrawleyHeavy weapons cantonment sites in Afghanistan are controlled by the Afghan National Army (ANA), under the guidance of the UN. The heavy weapons survey, the first step in the cantonment of all heavy weapons by the September elections, has been completed in all areas, except Herat and Panjshir. Cantonment of the heavy weapons began in Gardez on 29 May and will now spread to the rest of the country. Usable weapons collected under this process will be used to equip the ANA. The rest will be destroyed.
§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to persuade or induce Ismail Khan, who controls Heart in Afghanistan, to co-operate with the DDR process. [HL3074]
§ Baroness CrawleyThe UN has reported that Governor Ismail Khan said on 20 May that he will co-operate with the DDR program and that he agreed to provide his lists of troops for verification within two weeks. At the time of answering these had not yet been received.