Kabul, Aug 27 (IANS): A total of 36 militants and nine policemen were killed in clashes in Afghanistan's Ghor province, a senior government official said Wednesday, adding that the militants also took 30 policemen captive.

The killings occurred Tuesday night as clashes flared up in the province's Pasawand district, Xinhua quoted provincial governor Sayed Anwar Rahmati as saying.

"Unfortunately nine of our police have been martyred during the operations launched Tuesday night to root out militants in Sandan area of Pasawand district and the clash continued."

The governor said he has asked the central government to send reinforcements to the area to support local police.

Ghor province, with Cheghcheran as its capital 360 km west of Kabul, has been facing increasing Taliban-led militancy over the past couple of years.

Taliban militants have increased their attacks on government facilities since May and presently they are active in several parts of the militancy-plagued country.