17 gunmen surrender to government
26 July, 2012
KHOST: Afghan authorities claimed Wednesday that 17 anti-government gunmen joined the peace process in Paktika province.
A statement issued by Paktia governor's office said the 17 opponents joined the government in Sharana, capital of Paktika province, and vowed to stand by the government in reconstruction of the of the country.
Mohibullah Sameem, governor of Paktika province, pledged that all kind of facilities would be provided to the gunmen who laid down weapons.
Taliban, however, denied that their 17 fighters surrendered in Paktika.
"Reports of Taliban surrendering to government are mere rumours as no Mujahid surrendered to enemy in Paktika.
The enemy want to divert attention of the people from Afghan army, police and local police personnel' defection to Taliban recently in Faryab, Farah, Herat , Kandahar, Uruzgan and several other regions," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, told Afghan Islamic Press (AIP).
It is worth mentioning here that during the past two weeks Taliban claimed at least 300 Afghan security personnel joined them in Herat, Badghis, Farah, Kandhar and Uruzgan provinces.
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