ianstone
10-07-2010, 09:09 AM
Terrifying moment 127th Nato fuel truck is blown up in a WEEK as Pakistan leaves our fuel convoys as sitting ducks for the Taliban
By Wil Longbottom (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Wil+Longbottom)
Last updated at 12:34 PM on 7th October 2010
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Add to My Stories (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1318452/Terrifying-moment-Nato-fuel-truck-blown-Taliban-number-destroyed-tankers-hits-triple-figures.html)
At least six drivers are killed after seven days of attacks
Tankers targeted as they wait to get through pass closed by Pakistan
Coalition troops forced to use more costly routes to support war effort in Afghanistan
U.S. apologises for helicopter attack which killed two Pakistan soldiers
Thirty tankers carrying oil for NATO forces in Afghanistan have been destroyed after militants armed with assault rifles launched a seventh attack on fuel convoys.
In the second attack within 24 hours, militants opened fire on oil tankers parked along a road in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, as they were making their way to a mountain pass into Afghanistan.
Flames from the ruptured tankers were so fierce soldiers and medics have been unable to approach them to determine if there have been any casualties.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B818E46000005DC-476_634x434.jpg Fireball: Drivers and guards run from their tankers after militants staged the seventh attack on NATO fuel convoys in a week
It is the latest in a series of attacks targeting the NATO tankers as they ship fuel through mountain passes to NATO forces.
NATO officials have denied the attacks have caused supply problems for troops as hundreds of trucks are still gaining access into Afghanistan through the other Pakistan pass and via other central Asian states.
But hopes that the key Torkham crossing, which travels through the famous Khyber Pass, will reopen have been raised after the U.S. government issued an apology for a helicopter attack that killed two Pakistani soldiers.
The Torkham crossing - the main supply route between the two countries - was shut by Pakistan after the attack, which has left hundreds of supply trucks stranded alongside highways and bottlenecked traffic heading towards the Chaman crossing in the southwest of the country.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B81AB19000005DC-8_634x422.jpg Attacks: Firefighters desperately try to extinguish burning oil tankers waiting to cross into Afghanistan near Nowshera
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B82D87D000005DC-351_634x436.jpg Impasse: Militants are taking advantage of the closure of the Tarkham crossing to carry out increased numbers of attacks on fuel convoys
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B82D12F000005DC-611_634x402.jpg Smoke: A man stands in the middle of the road as tankers burn behind him. Many of the convoys are parked at the side of the road as they wait to access the two passes into Afghanistan
U.S. authorities said American pilots mistook the soldiers for insurgents they were pursuing.
A joint investigation revealed that the soldiers began firing at the two U.S. helicopters prior to the attack, a move the investigation team said was likely meant to notify the aircraft of their presence.
Brigadier General Tim Zadalis, NATO director for air plans in Afghanistan, said: 'We believe the Pakistani border guard was simply firing warning shots after hearing the nearby engagement and hearing the helicopters flying nearby.
'This tragic event could have been avoided with better coalition forces coordination with the Pakistan military.'
The head of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, added in a statement: 'We deeply regret this tragic loss of life and will continue to work with the Pakistan military and government to ensure this doesn't happen again.'
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B82D5A2000005DC-164_634x427.jpg Fierce: The heat from the burning tankers had prevented rescuers and soldiers from getting too close to find any casualties
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B82C94B000005DC-280_634x422.jpg Still burning: Policemen stand guard near the shells of some of the tankers
Armed militants have taken advantage of the impasse to stage attacks against stranded or rerouted trucks, including:
In the first of the series of attacks, more than 30 oil tankers were destroyed and a driver and his assistant were killed during three raids on convoys waiting to gain access to the Torkham and Chaman passes on October 2.
Twenty seven trucks were destroyed in another raid on October 4 as they waited to use the Chaman pass. Three drivers were killed and another 20 trucks torched in the fifth attack later on the same day.
Yesterday's two attacks saw 50 trucks destroyed and at least one driver killed outside the city of Quetta and on one convoy waiting to go through the Torkham crossing.
The convoys bring fuel, military vehicles, spare parts, clothing and other non-lethal supplies for foreign troops. Drivers and guards are hired to man the convoys.
U.S. pressure on Islamabad to eliminate militants in its northwest tribal areas is also a source of friction with Pakistan.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B5F18ED000005DC-209_634x418.jpg Tensions: The Pakistan government shut the Tarkham crossing after a U.S. helicopter attack killed two soldiers. The U.S. has now apologised for the error
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B83AF86000005DC-640_634x543.jpg There have been five attacks on oil tankers at the Torkham crossing through the Khyber pass and two at the Chaman crossing - the two access routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Fuel tank convoys have been held up after the Pakistan government shut the Torkham crossing, but fuel has also been getting through via other Asian countries
The alleged al Qaeda plot to attack European targets has put the Pakistani government's performance against militants under scrutiny again.
European and U.S. counter-terrorism officials have raised concerns about a group of around 100 German Islamists who travelled between Europe and the tribal areas.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks on the NATO supply trucks.
The U.S. had increased drone aircraft strikes against militant targets within Pakistan borders, further antagonising relations between the two nations.
It carried out another two yesterday, killing 11 militants in North Waziristan, according to Pakistan intelligence officials.
Reopening the Torkham crossing could reduce the frequency with which militants stage attacks on the convoys, although they have been taking place since well before the Pakistan government closed it down.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1318452/Terrifying-moment-Nato-fuel-truck-blown-Taliban-number-destroyed-tankers-hits-triple-figures.html#ixzz11g6ZkDuZ
By Wil Longbottom (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Wil+Longbottom)
Last updated at 12:34 PM on 7th October 2010
Comments (0) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1318452/Terrifying-moment-Nato-fuel-truck-blown-Taliban-number-destroyed-tankers-hits-triple-figures.html#comments)
Add to My Stories (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1318452/Terrifying-moment-Nato-fuel-truck-blown-Taliban-number-destroyed-tankers-hits-triple-figures.html)
At least six drivers are killed after seven days of attacks
Tankers targeted as they wait to get through pass closed by Pakistan
Coalition troops forced to use more costly routes to support war effort in Afghanistan
U.S. apologises for helicopter attack which killed two Pakistan soldiers
Thirty tankers carrying oil for NATO forces in Afghanistan have been destroyed after militants armed with assault rifles launched a seventh attack on fuel convoys.
In the second attack within 24 hours, militants opened fire on oil tankers parked along a road in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, as they were making their way to a mountain pass into Afghanistan.
Flames from the ruptured tankers were so fierce soldiers and medics have been unable to approach them to determine if there have been any casualties.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B818E46000005DC-476_634x434.jpg Fireball: Drivers and guards run from their tankers after militants staged the seventh attack on NATO fuel convoys in a week
It is the latest in a series of attacks targeting the NATO tankers as they ship fuel through mountain passes to NATO forces.
NATO officials have denied the attacks have caused supply problems for troops as hundreds of trucks are still gaining access into Afghanistan through the other Pakistan pass and via other central Asian states.
But hopes that the key Torkham crossing, which travels through the famous Khyber Pass, will reopen have been raised after the U.S. government issued an apology for a helicopter attack that killed two Pakistani soldiers.
The Torkham crossing - the main supply route between the two countries - was shut by Pakistan after the attack, which has left hundreds of supply trucks stranded alongside highways and bottlenecked traffic heading towards the Chaman crossing in the southwest of the country.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B81AB19000005DC-8_634x422.jpg Attacks: Firefighters desperately try to extinguish burning oil tankers waiting to cross into Afghanistan near Nowshera
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B82D87D000005DC-351_634x436.jpg Impasse: Militants are taking advantage of the closure of the Tarkham crossing to carry out increased numbers of attacks on fuel convoys
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B82D12F000005DC-611_634x402.jpg Smoke: A man stands in the middle of the road as tankers burn behind him. Many of the convoys are parked at the side of the road as they wait to access the two passes into Afghanistan
U.S. authorities said American pilots mistook the soldiers for insurgents they were pursuing.
A joint investigation revealed that the soldiers began firing at the two U.S. helicopters prior to the attack, a move the investigation team said was likely meant to notify the aircraft of their presence.
Brigadier General Tim Zadalis, NATO director for air plans in Afghanistan, said: 'We believe the Pakistani border guard was simply firing warning shots after hearing the nearby engagement and hearing the helicopters flying nearby.
'This tragic event could have been avoided with better coalition forces coordination with the Pakistan military.'
The head of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, added in a statement: 'We deeply regret this tragic loss of life and will continue to work with the Pakistan military and government to ensure this doesn't happen again.'
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B82D5A2000005DC-164_634x427.jpg Fierce: The heat from the burning tankers had prevented rescuers and soldiers from getting too close to find any casualties
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B82C94B000005DC-280_634x422.jpg Still burning: Policemen stand guard near the shells of some of the tankers
Armed militants have taken advantage of the impasse to stage attacks against stranded or rerouted trucks, including:
In the first of the series of attacks, more than 30 oil tankers were destroyed and a driver and his assistant were killed during three raids on convoys waiting to gain access to the Torkham and Chaman passes on October 2.
Twenty seven trucks were destroyed in another raid on October 4 as they waited to use the Chaman pass. Three drivers were killed and another 20 trucks torched in the fifth attack later on the same day.
Yesterday's two attacks saw 50 trucks destroyed and at least one driver killed outside the city of Quetta and on one convoy waiting to go through the Torkham crossing.
The convoys bring fuel, military vehicles, spare parts, clothing and other non-lethal supplies for foreign troops. Drivers and guards are hired to man the convoys.
U.S. pressure on Islamabad to eliminate militants in its northwest tribal areas is also a source of friction with Pakistan.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B5F18ED000005DC-209_634x418.jpg Tensions: The Pakistan government shut the Tarkham crossing after a U.S. helicopter attack killed two soldiers. The U.S. has now apologised for the error
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/07/article-1318452-0B83AF86000005DC-640_634x543.jpg There have been five attacks on oil tankers at the Torkham crossing through the Khyber pass and two at the Chaman crossing - the two access routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Fuel tank convoys have been held up after the Pakistan government shut the Torkham crossing, but fuel has also been getting through via other Asian countries
The alleged al Qaeda plot to attack European targets has put the Pakistani government's performance against militants under scrutiny again.
European and U.S. counter-terrorism officials have raised concerns about a group of around 100 German Islamists who travelled between Europe and the tribal areas.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks on the NATO supply trucks.
The U.S. had increased drone aircraft strikes against militant targets within Pakistan borders, further antagonising relations between the two nations.
It carried out another two yesterday, killing 11 militants in North Waziristan, according to Pakistan intelligence officials.
Reopening the Torkham crossing could reduce the frequency with which militants stage attacks on the convoys, although they have been taking place since well before the Pakistan government closed it down.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1318452/Terrifying-moment-Nato-fuel-truck-blown-Taliban-number-destroyed-tankers-hits-triple-figures.html#ixzz11g6ZkDuZ