(NSI News Source Info) April 11, 2009: More than six oil tankers, used for supplying fuel to NATO troops in neighboring Afghanistan, were reportedly destroyed Friday by suspected Taliban militants in Chamkani region of Pakistan's main northwest city of Peshawar, reports say.
A man looks at wreckage of NATO oil tankers allegedly recently attacked by militants near Peshawar, Pakistan on Friday, April 10, 2009. Several NATO parking lots transporting supplies into Afghanistan have came under attack on a number of occasions.
The militants blasted one of the 35 tankers--loaded with diesel, petrol and aviation fuel--parked overnight at the Chamkani area by placing an explosive device underneath, an unidentified police official said.
The blast triggered a massive blaze, which engulfed six tankers, he said, adding that the blaze was only brought under control by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) vehicles after local firefighters failed to control the blaze. Special chemicals were used to extinguish the raging flames, a security official said.
The oil tankers, contracted to supply NATO forces, had been parked in an unauthorized area, the official said.
Militants have carried out a series of attacks in recent times against supplies for U.S. and NATO-led foreign forces fighting a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan. The bulk of supplies and equipment required by the foreign troops across the border are shipped through northwest Pakistan's tribal region of Khyber. 
A Pakistani firefighter tries to extinguish burning oil supply tankers after a late night blast on the outskirts of Peshawar April 10, 2009. Militants blew up five oil-tankers, supplying fuel to Western forces fighting Taliban and al Qaeda insurgents in neighbouring Afghanistan, police and witnesses said.
U.S. officials say northwest Pakistan has become a safe haven for Al-Qaida and Taliban militants after the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and have regrouped to launch attacks on foreign troops across the border.
A man looks at wreckage of NATO oil tankers allegedly recently attacked by militants near Peshawar, Pakistan on Friday, April 10, 2009. Several NATO parking lots transporting supplies into Afghanistan have came under attack on a number of occasions.
The militants blasted one of the 35 tankers--loaded with diesel, petrol and aviation fuel--parked overnight at the Chamkani area by placing an explosive device underneath, an unidentified police official said.
The blast triggered a massive blaze, which engulfed six tankers, he said, adding that the blaze was only brought under control by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) vehicles after local firefighters failed to control the blaze. Special chemicals were used to extinguish the raging flames, a security official said.
The oil tankers, contracted to supply NATO forces, had been parked in an unauthorized area, the official said.
Militants have carried out a series of attacks in recent times against supplies for U.S. and NATO-led foreign forces fighting a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan. The bulk of supplies and equipment required by the foreign troops across the border are shipped through northwest Pakistan's tribal region of Khyber. A Pakistani firefighter tries to extinguish burning oil supply tankers after a late night blast on the outskirts of Peshawar April 10, 2009. Militants blew up five oil-tankers, supplying fuel to Western forces fighting Taliban and al Qaeda insurgents in neighbouring Afghanistan, police and witnesses said.
U.S. officials say northwest Pakistan has become a safe haven for Al-Qaida and Taliban militants after the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and have regrouped to launch attacks on foreign troops across the border.
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