KABUL, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Forty-one Taliban militants had surrendered to the Afghan government security forces in northern Takhar province, the country's Interior Ministry said on Saturday.

"Following efforts by local elders and district police, 41 Taliban members renounced violence and surrendered to the Afghan National and Defense Security Forces in Warsaj district, Takhar province," the ministry said in a statement.

They also handed over their weapons, the statement said, adding the former militants were active in Kuran Wa Munjan district of neighboring Badakhshan province.

The Afghan government launched the peace and reconciliation process in 2010 to encourage Taliban to disarm and give up militancy against the government.

Since then, more than 10,000 Taliban militants have laid down arms and joined the peace process, according to peace officials, but the claim has been rejected by the armed outfit as "baseless."

About 150 Taliban and Islamic State militants surrendered to the government in eastern Kunar province earlier this month.