14 Taliban militants give up fighting in northern Afghan town

(file photo)

MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- More than a dozen Taliban fighters gave up fighting and resumed normal life in Balkh province 305 km north of capital city Kabul on Tuesday.

"Fourteen of our dissident brothers gave up fighting and handed over their weapons to police in Charbolak district today," provincial police chief Mohammad Salim Ahsas said, while welcoming the former fighters in a ceremony held there.

These former fighters were active in Charbolak district and adjoining areas for the past couple of years and with their joining the peace process, the security will be further improved in the area, he added.

Taliban militants fighting the government are yet to comment.

More than 3,500 Taliban militants, according to officials, have joined the government-backed peace process in Afghanistan since early this year, a claim rebuffed by Taliban as baseless.

from XINHUA
2012-08-28 18:58:53

Posted in: Afghanistan, Balkh Province, Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, Taliban