Kabul, Jan 22 (TIWN) Forty Taliban militants have surrendered to Afghan National Army in the country's western province of Ghor amid military pressure in the mountainous region, Afghan Ministry of Defence confirmed on Wednesday.

"About 40 Taliban militants laid down arms and gave up fighting in Shahrak district of western Ghor province on Tuesday," the ministry said in a statement.  The latest surrendering came as a joint cleanup and search operation conducted by Afghan army, police and intelligence agency personnel has been continuing in Shahrak, Xinhua news agency reported.  About 150 Taliban surrendered to army in Shahrak over the past weeks, according to the statement.