Militants Attack NATO Oil Tankers In Pakistan

Militants attacked NATO oil tankers on Monday near Islamabad carrying fuel to forces in Afghanistan, police told. The incident is likely to hold back the reopening of NATO supply line through Pakistan.

According to senior police officer Mirwaiz Niaz, the attack was carried out by at least 12 armed men who first shot dead three security guards and then torched tankers. Thirteen vehicles were destroyed, he said.

A foreign ministry spokesperson stated on Sunday that Pakistan will only reopen supply route for NATO forces in Afghanistan once public fury over NATO border incursions cools down and security situation improves.

Meanwhile, militants on Sunday vowed to carry out more attacks on NATO tankers in response to incursions, after burning down three dozen tankers.

Infuriated over frequent incursions by coalition helicopters, Islamabad has closed down a supply line for NATO forces in Afghanistan, following an air strike that left three Pakistani troops dead in the northwestern border region.

The supply line closure, which has now entered its fifth day, has raised tensions between Pakistan and the US, whose alliance has seen its ups and downs. The US is pushing Pakistan to do more to hunt down militants in its tribal areas, which the West believes have become a hub for global Jihad.

Western intelligence sources have recently discovered a plot by Pakistan based militants to launch coordinated attacks on several cities in Europe, prompting the CIA to increase drone attacks on militants based in northwest region of Pakistan.