HERAT: A total of 15 Taliban insurgents laid down their arms and joined the government-backed peace process in Herat province 640 km west of the Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday, police said.

"Fifteen Taliban fighters gave up fighting and joined the peace process in Chasht district, Herat today," police spokesman of the province Noor Khan Nikzad told newsmen here.

All the former militants also handed over their weapons to police, he said, adding that with these people joining the peace process, security will be farther strengthened in Herat.

Taliban militants fighting the government are yet to make comment.

More than 3000 Taliban militants, according to officials, have joined the government-backed peace process over the past one year in the country, which was rejected by the Taliban as baseless.