KABUL, Nov. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Sibghatullah Mujadadi, head of government-run Afghanistan's reconciliation body -- the Program for Tahkim-e-Solh (PTS) or Program for strengthening peace, said Sunday that he foresaw the joining of more Taliban-led militants to government.

    "Some 616 former Taliban have laid down their arms and joined the peace process since the establishment of PTS nearly one year ago and we hope more Taliban to join the peace process," Mujadadi told newsmen at the end of two-day conference attended by provincial governors and police chiefs.

    The conference discussed the matters pertaining improving security situation and strengthening stability as well as encouraging anti-government armed groups including Taliban to join government.

    Besides officials, a number of former Taliban leaders includingtheir foreign minister Wakil Ahmad Mutawakil had also attended the conference.

    The PTS, Mujadadi said, had secured the release of 275 detainees from the US military detention centers in Afghanistan and some eight others from the notorious prison of Guantanamo Bay.

    Meantime, observers describe the efforts of PTS as a failure since no key Taliban military or political leaders switched side towards Kabul while Taliban-led militancy has claimed the lives of over 1,500 people including 70 US soldiers so far this year.

    Replying a question Mujadadi did not rule out Pakistan's possible support to Taliban by saying, "certain small groups backing the ousted militias and arresting some foreign nationals is a proof to it," he pointed out while referring to the arrest of some Pakistanis in the past.

    Some Afghan officials often accuse Pakistan of backing Taliban but Islamabad has rejected it, terming such allegations as groundless. Enditem