KHOST, Afghanistan - A former senior Taliban official has surrendered to authorities in Afghanistan, the fourth in the past month to give himself up as part of an amnesty offer, an official said Friday.
Habib-ur Rehman headed the criminal investigation department at the ministry of interior under the Islamic extremist Taliban regime. He handed himself over to authorities Thursday in southeastern Khost province, the province's intelligence director said.
"Habib-ur Rehman, who used to live in the tribal areas of Pakistan, joined the national reconciliation process yesterday with a commitment to live in peace," the intelligence director, Sadiq Tarakhil, said.
Karzai offered an olive branch to rank and file Taliban fighters last year and said all but a hardcore of 150 militants wanted for human rights violations would be able to rejoin the political process.
On Wednesday two other top former Taliban members surrendered in southern Helmand province. Earlier in March, key Taliban commander Abdul Wahid also gave himself up in Helmand.
Three years after the ouster of the Taliban by a US-led international coalition force, the remnants of the regime are still waging a guerrilla insurgency in the south and southeast of the country.
04/22/2005 10:43 GMT