A senior Taliban commander and two other insurgents were killed in a firefight with NATO-Afghan forces in western Afghanistan, the military alliance said on Sunday.

Another Taliban leader, Ajmal Agha Jan, also was killed on Saturday in southern Helmand province's Marjah district after he pulled a pistol on a joint force that raided his compound, NATO said in a statement.

An Afghan-NATO unit moved in after intelligence sources tracked the first commander, identified as Mullah Jamaluddin, as he traveled in western Badghis province's Murghab district on Saturday.

A gunbattle erupted and the Taliban leader and two militants were killed, NATO said.

Provincial spokesman Sharaf Uddin Majidi confirmed NATO's account.

"Jamaluddin was a very important person who received support from much of the local community," Majidi said. "His death will certainly lead to increased peace and stability."

Six senior Taliban were killed in operations in Badghis and neighboring Faryab province over the past two weeks, NATO said.

"These operations are significantly reducing Taliban influence throughout the region and returning it to the people of Afghanistan and the legitimate government they elected," said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres.