JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- A total of 23 anti-government militants including three armed insurgents affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group and 20 Taliban have given up fighting and handed over their weapons to police in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province, a statement of provincial administration said here on Thursday.

According to the statement, three IS insurgents surrendered to local authorizes and handed in their weapons to police on Wednesday.

Similarly, 20 militants loyal to the Taliban outfit have given up fighting and joined the government-backed peace process in Nangarhar's provincial capital Jalalabad on the same day Wednesday, the statement added.

According to the statement, the former militants were involved in anti-government activities in Khogiani, Chaparhar, Shinwar and Momandara districts over the past couple of years and their decision to give up fighting would pave the way for stabilizing peace and security there in the area.

Neither IS nor Taliban outfit has made comments on the report yet.

However, the militants' surrender to security forces is taking place amid hectic peace talks between the U.S. delegation and the Taliban representatives in Qatar capital Doha.