PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan - Nearly three dozen Taliban militants laid down arms and joined the government- initiated peace process in northern Afghan province of Baghlan, provincial governor Munshi Abdul Majid said Monday.

"Thirty-five former militants under Mullah Bashar joined the peace process in Dand-e-Ghori district on Sunday," Majid told a press conference here, adding their move would conducive to improving security situation.

The Afghan government has been calling on Taliban to give up insurgency and accept reconciliation offer.

However, Taliban leadership has rejected the peace talks until the withdrawal of NATO-led troops from the war-torn Afghanistan.