QALAT, Afghanistan -- A Taliban key commander in southern Afghan province of Zabul has given up fighting and joined the government-backed peace process, provincial police chief Ghulam Jilani Farahi said Tuesday.

"Taliban key commander in Zabul province Mullah Daud has given up fighting and joined the peace process," Farahi told Xinhua.

The former Taliban commander, after fighting the government and NATO-led forces over the past eight years, has laid down arms, Farahi said, adding that the decision would further boost the peace and reconciliation process in Zabul and adjoining provinces.

Taliban militants fighting the government have yet to make comment.

More than 4,000 militants have given up fighting and joined the peace process over the past one year in Afghanistan, according to officials, a claim rebuffed by the Taliban outfit as groundless.