MAIMANA, Afghanistan, March 7 (Xinhua) -- At least five militants were killed and three others injured as government forces warplanes pounded Taliban positions in Afghanistan's northern Faryab province on Wednesday, provincial police spokesman Abdul Karim Yurush said.

Government forces launched cleanup operations against Taliban militants in Shirin Tagab district earlier this week and so far over two dozen militants have been killed and several villages liberated from the clutches of the insurgents, the official said.

Taliban militants who are active in parts of the troubled Faryab province have not commented on the report.