SARI PUL, Afghanistan, April 6 (Xinhua) -- A 45-member group of Taliban militants have given up fighting and handed over their weapons to authorities in Afghanistan's northern Sari Pul province, security officials said Friday.

According to local officials, the former fighters under commander Khuda Dad laid down arms and vowed to support the government against militants elsewhere in Afghanistan.

"With surrender of Khuda Dad and his men to local authorities, 11 villages have been liberated from Taliban clutch in Shiram area," army commander in Sari Pul province Rahimullah Azimi told Xinhua.

Government forces launched major offensive against militants in Shiram area on Monday and so far dozens of militants, according to officials, have been killed or injured.

Taliban militants are yet to make comment on the situation.