53 militants surrender in Afghanistan

A total of 53 militants gave up fighting and surrendered their weapons in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province on Sunday.

"Today (Sunday) we are welcoming 53 former armed oppositions, including 43 Taliban and 10 fighters of Islamic State. I am calling upon all armed opposition groups to give up fighting," Xinhua news agency quoted a senior official as saying.

The militants were active in Achin, Nazian, Shinwar and Pachir Hagam districts over the past couple of years, the official said.

All the insurgents handed over their weapons to the authorities.

Speaking on the militants' welcoming ceremony, Nangarhar provincial governor Salim Khan Kunduzi promised to provide job opportunities to them.

Over 10,000 Taliban militants have given up fighting and reintegrated with their communities since 2010, according to Afghanistan High Peace Council, the government-backed peace agency.

However, Taliban militants rejected the claim, insisting that no fighter of the group has surrendered.