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53 militants give up fighting in E. Afghanistan

Xinhua, March 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

A total of 53 militants laid down arms and gave up fighting in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province on Sunday.

"Today we are welcoming 53 former armed oppositions including 43 Taliban and 10 fighters of Islamic State. From here, I am calling upon all armed opposition groups to lay down arms and give up fighting," Malik Nazir, head of provincial High Peace Council, told the welcoming ceremony.

The former militants were active in Achin, Nazian, Shinwar and Pachir Hagam districts over the past couple of years, Malik Nazir said, adding that he is hopeful that more militants would give up fighting in the coming weeks.

All the 53 former insurgents also handed over their weapons to local authorities in the ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Nangarhar provincial governor Salim Khan Kunduzi promised to provide job opportunities to them.

More than 10,000 Taliban militants have given up fighting and reintegrated to their communities since 2010, according to the High Peace Council, the government-backed peace body.

However, Taliban militants rejected the claim, insisting that no Taliban fighter has surrendered. Enditem