22 Taliban rebels surrender in western Afghanistan

Twenty-two Taliban militants surrendered in the western Afghan province of Herat on Sunday, the provincial governor said.

"Two groups of Taliban consisting of the 22 people renounced violence and joined the government-backed peace and reconciliation process in Herat ," Seyyed Fazlullah Wahhidi told Xinhua, adding the former militants were active in Shindand and Injil districts.

With the former insurgents' surrender, peace and stability would be further strengthened in the province, he noted.

The Taliban, which has been waging an insurgency for more than one decade, has yet to make comments.