53 militants surrender in Afghanistan

Kabul: A total of 53 militants gave up fighting and surrendered their weapons in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province on Sunday, while insurgents have killed the top judge on a provincial appeals court.

“Today (Sunday) we are welcoming 53 former armed oppositions, including 43 Taliban and 10 terrorists of Daesh. I am calling upon all armed opposition groups to give up fighting,” Xinhua News Agency quoted a senior official as saying.

The militants were active in Achin, Nazian, Shinwar and Pachir Hagam districts over the past couple of years, the official said.

All the insurgents handed over their weapons to the authorities.

Speaking on the militants’ welcoming ceremony, Nangarhar provincial governor Salim Khan Kunduzi promised to provide job opportunities to them.

Over 10,000 Taliban militants have given up fighting and reintegrated with their communities since 2010, according to Afghanistan High Peace Council, the government-backed peace agency.

However, Taliban militants rejected the claim, insisting that no fighter of the group has surrendered.

Meanwhile an Afghan official said insurgents have killed the top judge on a provincial appeals court.

Jawed Salangi, spokesman for the governor of the eastern Ghazni province, said Sunday that Mohammad Anwar was ambushed and shot while in neighbouring Wardak province the day before.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the killing in an email sent to reporters.

Insurgent attacks on Afghan security forces and officials have intensified across the country in the past year.

Judicial officials have long been Taliban targets. Anwar’s killing comes days after the nomination of a new attorney general, Farid Hamidi.

Hamidi is a former human rights commissioner whose appointment has to be approved by parliament.

President Ashraf Ghani has struggled to fill key security posts, with ministers of defence and interior acting in their positions.