Taliban attack NATO fuel tankers in east Afghanistan
Iran Press TV
Tue Sep 16, 2014 1:7PM GMT
Taliban militants have attacked a convoy of NATO fuel tankers in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar Province bordering Pakistan, security sources say.
According to Afghan officials, NATO trucks were blown up near the Torkham border crossing in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar Province on Tuesday.
The attack occurred when an attacker detonated his explosives at the entrance of the volatile border crossing.
The Torkham crossing is known as a key supply route for the NATO as most cargo shipments for the Western military alliance go through the crossing.
The Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the incident, saying that several trucks and fuel tankers went up in flames.
Afghan security forces say some Taliban militants also set fire to empty tankers. Security forces have arrested at least two people linked to the assault.
Taliban militants frequently attack trucks carrying supplies from Pakistan to the US-led forces deployed in Afghanistan. Militants in neighboring Pakistan have also destroyed hundreds of oil tankers and containers carrying fuel and other supplies to foreign forces in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion of the country in 2001. The invasion was aimed at rooting out the Taliban.
Taliban has stepped up its attacks against the Afghan government, foreign forces and civilians. The group has vowed to escalate the attacks on Afghan forces and US-led troops, their bases, diplomatic missions and vehicle convoys before the drawdown of the US-led foreign forces by the end of the year.
The US and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues across the country despite the presence of thousands of US-led troops.
JR/HMV/SS
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