KABUL, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Afghan troops backed by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) eliminated five Taliban insurgents including their commander in Afghanistan' s northwestern province of Badghis on Wednesday, said Abdul Rauf Ahmadi, the police spokesperson in western region, on Thursday.

    "A joint cleanup operation was launched in Balamurghab district by Afghan National Army, police and ISAF, during which Mullah Abdullah and his four men were killed," Ahmadi added.

    No causalities on joint forces were reported, he added, as five more rebels got wounded in the operation.

    In a separate incident in neighboring Herat province, three Taliban fighters were killed as they came in contact with police in Kishki Kohna district on the same day Wednesday, Noor Khan Nikzad spokesperson of police in province told Xinhua.

    Taliban militants fighting Afghan and international troops have yet to make comment on the claim.

    Presently, over 70,000-strong ISAF troops and U.S.-led Coalition forces have been serving in post-Taliban central Asian state combating militants.