Another attack on NATO tankers in Pak: 1 killed

Islamabad: Suspected Taliban militants on Wednesday attacked and set afire 20 oil tankers carrying supplies for NATO forces in southwest Pakistan, killing one man in the third major assault on supply vehicles in two weeks.

The NATO tankers, on their way to Afghanistan, were attacked on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, early morning, Deputy Inspector General Police Hamid Shakil said.

A group of gunmen opened fire at nearly 40 tankers parked at Akhtarabad along the main highway between Quetta and the border town of Chaman, a witness said.

The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for the past week's attacks on NATO convoys and threatened more such assaults to avenge the US strikes against them.

In Wednesday's attack, almost 20 tankers were destroyed but police saved the rest, Shakil said.

He told reporters that a driver was killed and another injured. He said the attackers came in vehicles and fled after the assault.

Fire fighters were called in to extinguish the blaze that erupted during the attack and police said they faced difficulties in their operation.

The contractors of NATO supply vehicles are responsible for their security when the trucks and tankers are parked.

On Monday, militants attacked NATO tankers near the federal capital Islamabad, burning 28 vehicles and killing at least three.

On Friday, some 20 militants attacked a NATO convoy with rockets in Shikarpur, a city in southern Sindh province, burning nearly 30 tankers.

Also on Friday, rockets were fired at two NATO supply trucks in the southwestern city of Khuzdar. Two were killed in the attack.

The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attacks and threatened more assaults on NATO convoys.

Militants have stepped up attacks on tankers and trucks in Pakistan after NATO helicopters carried out four air strikes in the tribal belt.

Three soldiers died in an air strike on September 27.

Pakistan blocked the main supply route for NATO trucks and tankers after the attacks and the ban entered its sixth day on Tuesday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said the route was blocked due to anger in Pakistan over the air raids and that the supplies would be restored after the security situation is improved.

Some 70 per cent of supplies for NATO and US troops and 40 per cent of their fuel requirements are shipped to Afghanistan via Pakistan.