A former Afghan Mujahideen commander, Haji Ata Sarkatib, is reported to have been been shot and seriously wounded by unknown assailants in the western Pakistani city of Quetta.

Members of his family said one of his asscociates was killed in the attack.

Haji Ata Sarkatib was formerly a powerful commander in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, which is now the headquarters of the Taleban leadership.

His supporters said the attack was politically motivated.

A number of prominent Afghan figures have been killed in Pakistan over the past few years, while only few arrests have been made.