Over two dozen Taliban militants laid down arms and surrendered to government in Samangan province 215 kilometers north of capital Kabul on Wednesday.
"Twenty five Taliban militants under Mullah Ismael laid down arms and surrendered to security authorities in Darai Suf Payan district today," provincial governor Khairullah Anush told reporters at the ceremony to welcome the former fighters, Xinhua reported.
With joining these former rebels to government security would be further improved in Samangan province, the governor further said.
"From now on I would defend peace and also I am calling on other Taliban fighters to lay down arms and resume normal life," commander of the group Ismael said in his short speech.
This is the first time that Taliban militants handed over weapons and given up militancy in Samangan province.
Taliban militants fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops have yet to make comment.
More than 400 Taliban fighters have laid down arms and resumed normal life in the neighboring Baghlan and Kunduz provinces over the past three months, according to local officials.
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