KHOST, Nov 19: Twenty-eight Taliban and Islamic fighters surrendered to authorities in insurgency-hit Afghanistan on Saturday and renounced anti-government activities, an intelligence official said. The 28 had returned to Afghanistan from exile in neighbouring Pakistan and gave themselves up in the eastern city of Gardez, the city’s head of intelligence Ghulam Nabi Salim told AFP.

They included 11 former members of the hardline Taliban government ousted four years ago and 12 members of the Hezb-i-Islami led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, on the US most-wanted list, he said.

Five former fighters for Commander Jalaluddin Haqani, also wanted by the United States for links to Al Qaeda, also surrendered, he said.

President Hamid Karzai has offered an amnesty to members of the Taliban movement and Islamic militias ‘whose hands are not stained with innocent people’s blood.’

More than 600 have taken up the offer, including former Taliban foreign minister Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil and Taliban’s ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Salam Zaeef.