, The New York Times, 17 January 2010

EXCERPT: "The Afghan government will soon unveil a major new plan offering jobs, security, education and other social benefits to Taliban followers who defect, according to the spokesman for President Hamid Karzai. The plan, in the final stages of preparation, will go beyond the government's previous offers to the Taliban, Waheed Omer, the spokesman, said at a news conference on Sunday. 'The mistakes we have committed before have been considered in developing this new plan,' he said. 'We have not done enough.' The reconciliation and reintegration plan is aimed at luring large numbers of the Taliban's followers, estimated by NATO officials at 25,000 to 30,000 active fighters, to change sides, and has qualified support from American officials. Afghan officials are hoping to finance the plan through pledges from the international community to be made at a London conference on Afghanistan planned for Jan. 28."

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Related articles:
Talking Afghan peace while the Taliban strike, Reuters, 18 January 2010
, The Washington Post, 17 January 2010
Dealing with brutal Afghan warlords is a mistake, RAWA News, 17 January 2010
Taliban reconciliation strategy gains momentum, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 13 January 2010
"Broken promises" cripple effort to reform the Taliban, The Globe and Mail, 4 January 2010

Related posts:
Mullah Omar rejects Karzai call for talks, 25 November 2009
UK promotes amnesty, govt jobs for defecting Taliban, 23 November 2009
Taliban leader rejects US attempts to lure away fighters, 30 October 2009
Reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan flounder, 14 October 2009
Toward reconciliation in Afghanistan, 31 March 2009