Thirty Taliban fighters defected to the government in western Afghanistan on Sunday, Xinhua reported.
"Thirty Taliban militants under Mullah Abdul Karim handed over some 50 pieces of heavy and light weapons to authorities in Shindand district of Herat province on Sunday," head of the government backed Strengthening Peace Commission (SPC) Hazrat Sharif Mujadadi told Xinhua.
They have been engaged in anti-government activities over the past six years, according to Mujadadi.
Addressing the ceremony of defecting to government, Commander Mullah Abdul Karim called on the authorities to build schools and clinic in Shindand district.
He also urged government not to allow NATO-led troops to search civilian houses and arrest Afghans on charge of linking to Taliban or al-Qaida network.