Five Taliban militants and two policemen were killed as police launched a cleanup operation in Pashtun Zarghon district of Herat province, 640 km west of capital city Kabul on Friday, provincial police chief Syed Aqa Saqib said Saturday.

"Since launching a cleanup operation in Pashtun Zarghon district on Friday, so far five Taliban rebels and two policemen have been killed," Saqib told Xinhua.

Four insurgents have been injured and two others made captive, he added.

The operation was launched Friday after a group of armed insurgents attacked police vehicles on the way to Pashtun Zarghon district, he added.

Saqib also noted that the operation will continue unless the area is cleared of anti-government fighters.

Taliban militants fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops have yet to make comment.