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Pakistan allows NATO supplies after week suspension

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Peshawar, Nov 18, IRNA
Pakistan-NATO-Supplies
Pakistan on Monday allowed supplies to the US-led NATO troops in Afghanistan after a week-long suspension due to security concerns, officials and witnesses said.

Suspected militants frequently hijack and attack oil tankers and supplies trucks for NATO forces in Pakistan's tribal Khyber agency, area between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Last week's incident of looting of wheat and military supplies meant for Afghanistan and Nato in Jamrud town of Khyber agency forced temporary suspension of truck supplies.

All Afghanistan-bound supplies for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) had been stopped as the highway was vulnerable, the Khyber Agency's political agent Tariq Hayat said last week.

Hundreds of trucks and oil takers, which had been stopped at Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, were allowed at 11:30 am, to move to Afghanistan under tight security, officials and witnesses said.

A huge convoy of trucks and oil tankers assembled at 'Tukhta Baig", a small town at the gate of Khyber agency tribal area and was escorted by the army, paramilitary force and local militia, they said.

Earlier a jirga or council of tribal elders also held at Jamrud and vowed to protect the supplies trucks and tankers for NATO forces in Afghanistan.

A tribal elder Attaullah told the jirga they would take action against those who will try to hijack or attack supplies trucks.

Oil and other items are supplied to NATO forces through Pakistan's land route and pass through Torkham border point.

World Food Program has complained that 900 tons of humanitarian food and oil supplies for the poor in Afghanistan and Pakistan worth $1 million have been looted.

The road through the Khyber Pass is NATO's primary supply line into Afghanistan.

Over 400 trucks and oil tankers, destined for Afghanistan, had been parked in Peshawar for a week and trucks drivers also protested over the suspension.

Drivers demanded security for them and supplies, as attacks in the past burnt and damaged their trucks and in few incidents drivers were also killed.

Hayat had ordered shoot-at-sight order of those who try to hijack or loot NATO supplies.

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