Life after Taliban: Child soldiers and ex-Taliban militants speak out. Gulf News visits Pakistan's deradicalization and rehabilitation centers and speaks to former Taliban militants and child soldiers about their experiences. See more at: http://gulfnews.com/gntv
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00:00After the success of military operations in Pakistan's tribal belt, an experimental initiative
00:13was launched to rehabilitate many militants, including children.
00:18I headed to the de-radicalization center in Bajor to meet some of the boys and men who
00:23have taken part in these programs.
00:26Our first encounter was with child soldiers, some of which were being trained to become
00:31suicide bombers and fighters by the Taliban when they were captured by the military.
01:26My next destination was the Naveh Sahar de-radicalization and reintegration center.
01:56These men have successfully passed the rehab program and have also been given vocational
02:00training in various skills.
02:09I met some of these ex-Taliban soldiers who recounted their experiences.
02:39I was about 25 years old at that time, and now I am 31-32 years old.
02:46What was the main reason for you to join their group and why did you decide to fight against
02:56the government and your country?
02:59The main reason was that the people of Bajor are unemployed, and they are being trained
03:06to do jihad against other people, to do this, to do that.
03:11When we talk about this, it changes their minds as to what they want to do.
03:17From Bajor, I went to Swat to visit Sabaun, the only juvenile de-radicalization and rehabilitation
03:23center in Pakistan.
03:26I was given a tour of the facility where hardcore fighters and trained suicide bombers are now
03:31being successfully rehabilitated.
03:34I was able to speak to one of the class 10 boys about his experiences.
03:56My next stop was Mashal, a de-radicalization center where I heard one of the ex-Taliban
04:25recount how he was recruited by Mullah Fazlullah's men.
04:56The work going on in these centers is helping to rebuild the lives of hundreds who will
05:01in turn contribute towards society and help prevent others from being lured into a life
05:06of terrorism.
05:08Faryal Aghari, Gulf News.