Another 26 NATO tankers burnt in Nowshera in Pak following air strike standoff
By ANIThursday, October 7, 2010
PESHAWAR - In the latest attack on convoys in Pakistan carrying supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan, insurgents have torched at least 26 NATO oil tankers at Khairabad area in Nowshera district.
Parked at Sangham Hotel on the Grand Trunk road in Khairabad, almost 25 to 35 tankers carrying oil for allied forces in Afghanistan were burnt yesterday night, when militants targeted them with explosive devices, The Nation reported.
According to eyewitnesses, about 26 tankers were instantly engulfed in flames, as fire spread rapidly and burnt all the vehicles parked there.
Police sources confirmed the incident, adding that it was a huge blaze and could not be extinguished with the help of a few fire brigades.
They had called district administrations of Mardan, Peshawar, Risalpur and Attock to rush fire brigades to the site immediately, however, the fire could only be extinguished after hectic efforts, and nine tankers were saved by them, the sources disclosed.
Moreover, eyewitnesses said that they heard the sound of firing from a nearby mountain, though no casualty was reported in the incident till filing this report.
Some of the militants, who might have taken positions in a hill close to the site, later opened fire at the parked oil tankers, apparently in a bid to cause maximum damage by burning the vehicles totally, the paper said.
In the last few days, there have been similar attacks on the convoys carrying supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan in Quetta and Shikarpur areas of Pakistan. (ANI)
