Afghan and NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on Friday arrested two Taliban elements including a senior local leader in Taliban former stronghold Helmand province, 555 km south of Afghan capital Kabul, a statement of the alliance released here said.

"During an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand today, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a senior Taliban leader and detained one other insurgent," the statement added.

Without identifying the name of the arrested local leader, the statement stressed that the leader "is believed to exercise operational control over multiple insurgent cells throughout Helmand province, committing multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces."

Taliban militants fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops have yet to make comment.