MOSCOW, December 29 (Sputnik) — Some 200 Taliban militants have renounced violence and surrendered, pledging their support to the Afghan government, the Khaama news agency reported Monday.
The militants gave up their weapons and announced their support for the Afghan Government of National Unity during a visit by the country’s Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum to northern Jawzjan province, as reported by the news agency.
According to a statement by Gen. Dostum, the surrender of the militants was welcomed, and other militants were called on to follow suit and join the political reconciliation process, Khaama reported.
Gen. Dostum added that employment opportunities would be provided to all militants who surrendered.
Jawzjan province is considered to be one of the most violent provinces in the north of the country from where anti-government militant groups operate and carry out insurgencies.
Recently, Afghan president Ashraf Ghani called on militants to surrender and join the peace process, assuring that they would not be charged. Following the president’s announcement, a number of Taliban militants have come forward in groups to surrender.
The Taliban fundamentalist political movement formed in the 1990s seeks establishment of Strict Islam Sharia Law in Afghanistan. The Taliban and other militants have carried out multiple attacks across the country in an attempt to overthrow the government. According to the United Nations, this year during violence in Afghanistan about 10,000 civilians have been killed or wounded.
