A dozen armed Taliban militants gave up fighting and joined the government-backed peace process in Herat on Wednesday.

"Twelve armed Taliban fighters under Mullah Jandad handed over their weapons to authorities in Kushk-e-Rabat district and joined the peace process today," Mohiuding Noori told Xinhua.

All the former militants have also handed over the weapons to police and vowed to defend peace in the country, he said.

Taliban militants fighting the government are yet to make comment.

According to officials, more than 3,500 Taliban fighters have laid down arms and joined the government-backed national reconciliation and peace process over the past one year, but it was rejected by the Taliban outfit as baseless.