Seventeen Taliban militants, including a key commander, laid down their arms and joined the government-backed peace process in Afghanistan's Laghman province Tuesday, an official said.
"A 17-member (group of) armed Taliban rebels headed by commander Hazratullah Bombar laid down their arms and joined the peace process in the provincial (Laghman) capital Mehterlam city today (Tuesday)," Xinhua reported quoting spokesperson of the provincial government Sarhadi Zawak as saying.
The former militants also handed over their weapons to the authorities in Mehterlam, some 90 km east of Kabul.
Describing the surrender as a big blow to the Taliban militants, the official added that Hazratullah Bombar along with his men was active in Badpakh district and the Tangi Abrisham area on Kabul-Jalalabad highway.
He also said that commander Bombar's surrender would enable security forces to further improve the security of Kabul-Jalalabad highway and strengthen the government control in Badpakh and adjoining areas.
