SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- About 13 militants of the Islamic State (IS) group renounced violence and surrendered to government in Afghanistan's northern province of Jawzjan on Thursday, provincial police chief said.

"A total of 13 armed militants, who used to be members of IS group, and were active in Quish Tepa district of the province, denounced hostility and joined the peace and reconciliation process Thursday," Gen. Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani told Xinhua.

The local authorities will spare no efforts to help them rejoin their families and provide them security, he added.

With the insurgents' surrender, peace and stability would be further strengthened in several parts of Jawzjan.

The surrendering came in the wake of recent clashes between the IS militants and rival Taliban militants in remote districts in the province, which has also been the scene of heavy clashes between militants and Afghan security forces over the past couple of months.

The IS group has yet to make comments on the report.