Militants destroy NATO supply tankers in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - Suspected Islamist militants in northwestern Pakistan near the Afghan border Monday torched two oil tankers carrying fuel for the NATO forces in Afghanistan, official said.

The incident took place in Khata Kashta area of Khyber, one of the seven mountainous tribal districts that are known bastions of Taliban and Al Qaeda rebels.

“Attackers fired a rocket and then opened fire at NATO tankers. Two tankers caught fire,” district official Iqbal Khan said. One driver and his assistant were reportedly injured.

The highway linking Pakistan and Afghanistan was blocked by the burning tankers.

Khyber is a stronghold of militants affiliated with Lashkar-e-Islam, a pro-Taliban group active in the district. They regularly attack NATO supply trucks which pass through the area.

At least 28 suspected militants linked with the same militant group were killed Friday in three separate strikes by US pilotless aircraft in Khyber.

Pakistani forces have launched several offensives against the militants but failed to completely eliminate the threat of attacks.