A key commander of Taliban militants in northern Afghanistan has been arrested, Afghan intelligence agency National Directorate for Security (NDS) said in a statement released here on Wednesday.

"Qari Salahudin Ayubi, the key commander of Taliban outfit in northern provinces of Afghanistan and the shadowy governor of Faryab province was arrested last night in the western Herat province," the statement said.

Qari Ayubi was enroute from Herat to the southern Kandahar province, with Quetta city of Pakistan as its final destination, when security personnel identified and captured him.

Capture of Qari Ayubi, according to the statement, is a major setback to the Taliban militants.

However, Taliban has yet to make comment.