KABUL: An Afghan insurgent commander planning bombings in Kabul and two of his associates have been killed in an airstrike, Nato said.

Intelligence sources tracked Nur Mohammed and two armed militants to a field in the remote Musahi district of Kabul province, the military alliance said.

A Nato statement said Friday coalition aircraft conducted the airstrike Thursday night after ensuring no civilians were present.

It said the senior insurgent commander was planning attacks in the capital before the September 18 parliamentary elections. The Taliban have vowed to attack polling stations and warned Afghans not to participate in what they called a sham vote.