Thirty five armed Taliban militants gave up fighting after 10 years and handed over their weapons to authorities in the western Herat province on Sunday, police said.

"Today 35 dissident brothers including four mine makers under Mullah Nasim, who fought against government over the past 10 years gave up fighting and handed in their weapons including several anti-vehicle and anti-personal mines to police," provincial police chief Rahmatullah Safi said in his speech at a ceremony to welcome the former militants.

With joining these people to the peace process, the security will be further improved in Herat province, he further said.

The former Taliban militants, according to the police officer were active in the eastern and southern parts of Herat over the past 10 years.

Taliban militants have yet to make comment.

More than 3,500 Taliban fighters, according to officials have laid down their arms and joined the government-backed peace process over the past one year, a claim rebuffed by the armed outfit as baseless.

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