A dozen Taliban insurgents surrendered their weapons on Sunday in northern Baghlan province and joined the government peace process, local officials said.
Provincial Police Chief Asadullah Shirzad said that 11 fighters including their commander renounced their Taliban ties as they handed weapons over to the government during a ceremony in the province.
The insurgents has been fighting against security forces in the Jalagai district of the province, he said.
"I am sure now that with the joining of these men in the peace process security will improve in the area that they had been active," he said.
Meanwhile the insurgents' commander said "I joined the peace process to help my people and my country."
More than 600 insurgents have been joined in the peace process in the past several months, local officials said.