Forty-five Taliban rebels surrendered in Afghanistan, sources said Sunday.
"Up to 40 armed opponents joined the national reconciliation process and laid down their arms in western Herat province," said the Afghan National Security Directorate, the country's intelligence agency, in a statement.
With the former insurgents' surrender, peace and stability would be further strengthened in the province, it added.
In addition, earlier on Sunday, five Taliban, including a Taliban local leader named Sado, joined the peace process in northern Kunduz province, deputy provincial police chief Ebadullah Talwar told Xinhua.
They also handed over the weapons to police there.
Taliban militants fighting Afghan forces and NATO-led troops have not made any comment yet.
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