TOKYO, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Japan is highlighting its contribution to the international community by providing training to former Taliban soldiers, its foreign ministry announced Friday.
The Japanese government says this will support reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan and serve as an alternative to the Maritime Self-Defense Forces refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, The Mainichi Daily News reported. The legal mandate for refueling expires in January.
Many young men join the Taliban movement for money. The Japanese mission is to provide vocational training that will help provide an alternative was out of poverty, the newspaper said. Training will be provided to as many former Taliban as possible and the Japanese Foreign Ministry is considering offering salaries during the training program, funded by the government.
Japan has played a leading role in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of the Afghan National Army. The country backed the social rehabilitation of about 60,000 former soldiers. This experience will be used in the rehabilitation of the soldiers to receive training.
