The news outlet TOLOnews reported on 5 March that 70 Taliban militants are ready to join the peace process in support of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project in exchange for jobs.
Herat provincial council chairman Kamran Alizai said they held negotiations with the group of Taliban, which numbers 70. The group expressed readiness to take part in maintaining the project’s security provided they are employed.
Herat governor Mohammad Asif Rahimi welcomed the group’s initiative and promised the militants will be provided with employment opportunities after they lay down arms. He did not specify, however, what jobs will be provided.
A group of ten Taliban militants, who also agreed to cease fire in exchange for jobs on the TAPI process, has previously joined the peace process.
According to Wikipedia, as of 2014 the number of Taliban insurgents amounts to 52-60 thousand.
On 24 February “The Voice of America” reported on 24 February that a series of suicide bombings swept Afghanistan a day after construction works on the Afghan section of TAPI pipeline were launched.