ianstone
10-06-2010, 05:13 AM
Taliban Torch Up To 20 Nato Fuel Tankers
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9:22am UK, Wednesday October 06, 2010
Pete Norman, Sky News Online
The Taliban has claimed responsibility for an attack in Pakistan that torched up to 20 tankers carrying fuel for Nato forces in Afghanistan.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Oct/Week1/15753063.jpg Successive tanker attacks have hampered fuel re-supply for troops in Afghanistan
Police said at least one truck driver was also killed in the attack.
The attack happened on the outskirts of the southwest city of Quetta, and it is the fourth such incident in six days, a police official said.
The Taliban later said its militants carried out the attack as revenge for increasing US drone strikes in the country's northwest.
"We claim responsibility for attacking and torching Nato tankers in Quetta today," Tehreek e Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq told AFP.
"We will further intensify attacks with the intensification of US drone strikes on us."
The US has massively increased its armed drone campaign in Pakistan's lawless northwest tribal region on the [URL="http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Afghanistan"]Afghan (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/New-Attack-On-Nato-Fuel-Tankers-In-Pakistan-Up-To-20-Trucks-Torched-And-One-Driver-Killed/Article/201010115753021?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_3&lid=ARTICLE_15753021_New_Attack_On_Nato_Fuel_Tanke rs_In_Pakistan%3A_Up_To_20_Trucks_Torched_And_One_ Driver_Killed#comments) border, where an alleged terror plot to attack European targets is believed to have been hatched.
Pakistani authorities have reported 24 airborne attacks since September 3 which have killed more than 140 people.
The assault is the latest on supply convoys since Pakistan shut a key border crossing into Afghanistan in retaliation for a recent Nato incursion into Pakistan.
Pakistan (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Pakistan)'s decision to close the Torkham crossing follows Nato helicopter strikes on its territory.
One of those attacks, in pursuit of cross-border militants, killed three Pakistani soldiers.
The latest tankers attacked are believed to have been making for a smaller border crossing that remains open.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post first reported that secret talks aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan have begun between representatives of the Taliban and the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Hamid_Karzai).
The talks have been confirmed by the Nato chief in Afghanistan.
[/URL]
9:22am UK, Wednesday October 06, 2010
Pete Norman, Sky News Online
The Taliban has claimed responsibility for an attack in Pakistan that torched up to 20 tankers carrying fuel for Nato forces in Afghanistan.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Oct/Week1/15753063.jpg Successive tanker attacks have hampered fuel re-supply for troops in Afghanistan
Police said at least one truck driver was also killed in the attack.
The attack happened on the outskirts of the southwest city of Quetta, and it is the fourth such incident in six days, a police official said.
The Taliban later said its militants carried out the attack as revenge for increasing US drone strikes in the country's northwest.
"We claim responsibility for attacking and torching Nato tankers in Quetta today," Tehreek e Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq told AFP.
"We will further intensify attacks with the intensification of US drone strikes on us."
The US has massively increased its armed drone campaign in Pakistan's lawless northwest tribal region on the [URL="http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Afghanistan"]Afghan (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/New-Attack-On-Nato-Fuel-Tankers-In-Pakistan-Up-To-20-Trucks-Torched-And-One-Driver-Killed/Article/201010115753021?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_3&lid=ARTICLE_15753021_New_Attack_On_Nato_Fuel_Tanke rs_In_Pakistan%3A_Up_To_20_Trucks_Torched_And_One_ Driver_Killed#comments) border, where an alleged terror plot to attack European targets is believed to have been hatched.
Pakistani authorities have reported 24 airborne attacks since September 3 which have killed more than 140 people.
The assault is the latest on supply convoys since Pakistan shut a key border crossing into Afghanistan in retaliation for a recent Nato incursion into Pakistan.
Pakistan (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Pakistan)'s decision to close the Torkham crossing follows Nato helicopter strikes on its territory.
One of those attacks, in pursuit of cross-border militants, killed three Pakistani soldiers.
The latest tankers attacked are believed to have been making for a smaller border crossing that remains open.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post first reported that secret talks aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan have begun between representatives of the Taliban and the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Hamid_Karzai).
The talks have been confirmed by the Nato chief in Afghanistan.