Kabul, June 9 (IANS): A total of 41 militants laid down arms and gave up fighting in Afghanistan's Kunar province on Tuesday.

"A total of 41 armed fighters under their commanders Mullah Khairullah and Abdul Halim gave up fighting and joined the government-backed peace process today (Tuesday) and the government wants other militants to follow the step," provincial Governor Wahidullah Kalimzai said during a ceremony at provincial capital Assadabad, 185 km east of Kabul, to welcome the former insurgents.

With these people who were involved in anti-government activities in different parts of the province over the past few years joining the peace process, security will be further improved in the province, Xinhua news agency cited the governor as saying.

Over 4,000 militants -- 384 of them in Kunar province -- have joined the government-backed peace process over the past one year, a claim refuted by the Taliban as groundless.