Taliban shadow district governor Mullah Mohammad was detained in the Injil district of western Herat province on Sunday during a joint Afghan and Nato forces operation, local officials said.
Afghan and foreign security forces conducted a clearing operation in the Injil district to remove insurgents from the area, capturing the shadow district governor in the process, according to Heart provincial spokesman Mahiuddin Noori.
Several other insurgents have turned over to the government, renouncing the insurgency, he said.
Separately, five local Taliban fighters were arrested in a joint Afghan and foreign military operation in the Oba district. The detainees were involved in planting landmines and launching direct attacks against Afghan and Nato forces.
Since the start of reconciliation programme in Herat, nearly 700 insurgents have renounced violence and surrendered to Afghan government, but some reports say that one Taliban commander who previously renounced violence has returned to the militant group and is fighting the government.