Taliban Militants Lay Down Arms in N. Afghanistan

More than 4,000 militants, according to Afghan officials, have laid down arms and joined the government-backed peace process over the past one year, a claim rejected by Taliban outfit as baseless.

( PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan Xinhua) - Fourteen members of the Taliban insurgent group laid down arms and surrendered in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan Province on Saturday, provincial police chief Aminullah Omarkhil said.

"A total of 14 Taliban militants handed over their weapons to police and joined the peace process in Dande Ghori district on Saturday morning," Amarkhil told newsmen at a press conference.

The move would strengthen the peace and stability in the province, he noted. Taliban militants fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops have not made any comment yet.

More than 4,000 militants, according to Afghan officials, have laid down arms and joined the government-backed peace process over the past one year, a claim rejected by Taliban outfit as baseless.

Source: Xinhua