5 Taliban give up fighting in south Afghanistan

A five-member group of Taliban militants gave up fighting in the former Taliban stronghold the southern Kandahar province on Thursday, official said. "With joining these brothers to the peace process the security will be further improved in Kandahar and adjoining provinces," head of provincial peace council, Ata Mohammad Ahmadi said in the ceremony to welcome the former militants. The group, he said was active in Shah Walikot district of Kandahar province over the past couple of years. Taliban militants fighting the government are yet to make comment. More than 4,000 militants, according to Afghan officials have laid down arms and joined the government-backed peace process over the past one year, a claim rejected by Taliban outfit as baseless.