Military

Pakistani Taliban claim attack on NATO oil tankers

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Oct 3, IRNA -– Pakistani Taliban Saturday claimed responsibility for attack on tankers carrying oil for NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Militants early Friday fired rockets on NATO oil tankers near the southern city of Shikarpur in Sindh province, destroying 27 tankers, District Coordination Officer, Saeed Akhtar Mangijo said.

The police had also exchanged fire with the suspected militants but the militants fled after the attack, District Police Officer, Abdul Hameed Khosa said.

Spokesman for the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Azam Tariq said that ?Siara Group’ of Taliban has carried out the attack. He said Siara group is part of Hakimullah group.

He said all NATO supplies trucks would be targeted and TTP men have been tasked in the four provinces.

Tariq said that Siara group has been launched in South Waziristan but people from other areas are part of the outfit.

The attack was carried out a day after Pakistan blocked supplies trucks for NATO forces in Afghanistan apparently as protest against the NATO air strikes which killed three Pakistani soldiers on Thursday.

He alleged that some journalists have become ?part of American propaganda’ and are ?using their pen against Taliban’.

The Taliban spokesman said that TTP fighters have reached different areas in South Waziristan and are fighting against the security forces.

Thousands of Pakistani troops had launched major air and ground offensive against in South Waziristan in October and expelled militants from the region.

He asked the displaced Mehsud tribesmen not to return to South Waziristan as they could be stuck up in the fighting.

The authorities had planned to repatriate in April thousands of people, displaced as the result of military operation to South Waziristan, but the repatriation has not yet started over security concerns.

Taliban had issued a pamphlet saying that the IDPs would be harmed in fighting.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30000371