15 insurgents give up fighting in Afghan eastern province

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, April 10 (Xinhua) -- A total of 15 anti-government militants had given up fighting and joined the peace process in the eastern Nangarhar province on Tuesday, the provincial government said in a statement released here.

"Ten members of Taliban group and five Islamic States (IS) fighters handed over their weapons to provincial authorities here and surrendered to the government" said the statement.

According to the statement, the surrendered insurgents were involved in anti government activities in Shinwar district over the past years.

Taliban fighters usually lay down arms and join the government-backed peace process. However, militants affiliated to the hardliner IS group rarely give up fighting and surrender.

Previously a four-member group of IS militants surrendered to the government in northern Jawzjan province last week. Enditem