The US government is aiming to make Taliban Loyal by making payments to Taliban Locals. These payments would be made under a Taliban reintegration provision under the Commander’s Emergency Response Programme (CERP). The move is based on their finding that the Taliban fighters are motivated largely by the need for a job or loyalty to the local leader who pays them and not by ideology or religious zeal.

Our View: This US measure is an interesting approach to solve a problem that it has not been able to solve for long. But they should keep this in mind that they would still be viewed as an outsider by the Taliban and it would take years before they start feeling loyal to the US. Also, the Taliban have much better control and reach over the locals and thus the US should take sufficient steps at micro level to ensure that the funds do not get transferred or passed onto and used by Taliban leaders to do large scale damage to the World.

Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/US-to-pay-Taliban-members-to-switch-sides/articleshow/5175572.cms