10 Taliban fighters lay down arms in Afghanistan

Kabul, Oct 23: Ten

militants gave up fighting and resumed normal life in the western

province of Herat Wednesday.

More than 3,500 militants have given up fighting and joined peace process

"Today we are the witness of giving up fighting by 10 dissident brothers in Chasht district of Herat province and resuming normal life within society," Xinhua quoted provincial governor Sayed Fazlulah Wahidi as saying in his speech at the ceremony in provincial capital Herat city, 640 km west of Kabul, to welcome the former militants.

The former fighters also handed over their weapons to the local authorities, he added.

Wahidi also called upon other militants to follow suit and contribute to the rebuilding process in Afghanistan.

According to officials, more than 3,500 militants have given up fighting and joined the government-backed peace process over the past year, a claim rebuffed by the Taliban as groundless.

IANS