15 militants surrender in northern Afghanistan

Some 15 Taliban rebels surrendered to the government in Afghanistan's northern province of Jawzjan on Saturday, the provincial governor said.

"We warmly welcome our 15 brothers who joined the government-initiated peace and reconciliation process. They can now live with honor and dignity and the government will spare no efforts to provide them jobs and assistance," Lutfullah Azizi said at a welcoming ceremony.

The surrendered, who had been under the command of Abdul Salam, were active in Khamyab district, the governor added.

They also handed over 15 rounds of weapons to security authorities at the ceremony.

With the former insurgents' surrendering, peace and stability would be further strengthened in several parts of the province, the governor noted.

On Thursday, seven Taliban joined the reintegration process in neighboring Faryab province.

Taliban militants fighting the government have not made any comments yet.

The Afghan government set up a High Peace Council and launched the peace and reconciliation process in 2010 to encourage Taliban to disarm and give up militancy against the government.

Since mid-2010, more than 10,000 Taliban militants have laid down arms and joined the process, according to officials, but the claim has been rejected by the armed group. Enditem