Eight anti-government militants laid down arms and joined the government in Kunduz province 250 km north of capital Kabul on Tuesday, police said. "Eight Taliban fighters under Mullah Shamsudin handed over their weapons to authorities and joined government this morning," deputy to provincial police chief Abdul Rahman Haqtash told newsmen at a press conference here, Xinhua reported.
Shamsudin and his men were active in Imam Sahib district over the past more than one years and his joining to government would further help improve security there, Haqtash further said.
In a brief chat with journalists, Mullah Shamsudin said that he had severed ties with Taliban outfit and from now on would contribute in bolstering peace and rebuilding activities in the province.
Taliban militants fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops have yet to make comment.
Over 300 anti-government militants, according to local officials have given up militancy and reintegrated to civil community in Kunduz province over the past three months.