Pakistan army officer 'attacked'

Last month, a brigadier was killed in a similar drive-by shooting

A Pakistan army officer and his driver were seriously injured in a shooting incident in the capital, Islamabad.

Two motorcycle-borne gunmen opened fire at the personal vehicle of the brigadier, police said.

This is the third such attack in the city since the army began its offensive against the Taliban bases in South Waziristan, on the Afghan border.

A wave of attacks on Pakistani cities killed more than 180 people during the month of October alone.

'Escaped'

The attack took place in Islamabad's sector I-8/4 early Friday morning, police said.

"The assailants escaped after carrying out the attack," Islamabad police superintendent Fakhr Alam told the BBC.

"We discovered empty bullet casing and a pistol from the site of the incident."

Police have cordoned off the area and investigations are continuing.

The attack comes as Pakistan's military pushes its way towards the control of South Waziristan in its operation against the Taliban militants.

The militants have repeatedly said they would carry out attacks across Pakistan as long as the operation continues.

Last month, another brigadier and his driver were killed in a similar drive-by shooting in Islamabad.

The army has sent thousands of troops into South Waziristan to destroy militant strongholds.

The area is out of bounds for journalists and there is little information coming out from there.

Tens of thousands of civilians have fled the region in the last few weeks to escape the fighting.