30 Taliban give up fighting in south Afghanistan

A total of 30 Taliban militants gave up fighting and handed over their weapons to the local authorities in the southern Kandahar province on Monday. "Today 20 brothers laid down their arms in Panjwai district and Kadim Patyal," the deputy governor of Kandahar province said in his speech while welcoming the former militants. He also called on other Taliban fighters in Kandahar province to follow the step and boast the security in the province. Taliban militants fighting the government are yet to make comment. More than 4,000 Taliban militants, according to officials, have laid down arms and joined the government-backed peace process over the past one year, but the claim has been rejected by the armed outfit as baseless.