Kabul - An Afghan army commander in western Afghanistan claimed on Thursday that their forces supported by NATO warplanes killed 30 Taliban militants in fight that left three Afghan security forces also dead.

The clash took place in Bala Bulok district of south-western Farah province on Wednesday when Afghan army and police conducted an operation after getting intelligence information regarding the presence of rebels in the area, army commander in western region, Jalander Shah Behnam said.

He said after losing two army soldiers and one Afghan police, the forces on the ground asked for air support, and NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) aircraft pounded the insurgents' position.

"Thirty Taliban including their commanders and foreign fighters were killed in the clash and air bombing," the army commander said.

Abdul Mutalib Rad, police spokesman for western region also confirmed the clash, but could not give any exact number of death toll for Taliban.

No ISAF spokesmen or Taliban officials were immediately available for comment. (dpa)