Militants attack Nato fuel tankers

The tankers were attacked along a key supply route through Pakistan to Afghanistan.

Senior police officer Mirwaiz Niaz said: “There were at least 12 men carrying arms. They first opened fire and killed three guards and then set tankers on fire.”

The attacks will further stretch the already strained relationship between Pakistan and the United States.

The supply route – critical for getting supplies to coalition troops in Afghanistan – was blocked last week by Pakistan after one United States drone strike, targeting militants, killed three Pakistani soldiers in the north west of the country.

This weekend the foreign ministry spokesman said it would only re-open once public anger over US strikes in Pakistan subsides, and security improves.

In the meantime, the Taliban pledged that it would continue to attack the supply route. Today’s attack follows a similar strike on Friday, when 27 tankers were burned. Around 200 tankers are currently held in the depot.

Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq told Reuters: “Our Mujaheddin have carried out this attack. We will continue such attacks all over the country to avenge drone attacks and attacks by foreign forces inside Pakistani territory.”

Read more on the war in Afghanistan in our special report 

The CIA carried out 21 drone attacks against al-Qaeda-linked insurgents in Pakistan’s north west in September, the highest number on record in one month. The attacks have long been controversial, particularly as civilians can be hit, but the US says they are part of modern warfare.

Pakistan’s government is under pressure from the United States to crack down on militant activity within its borders as coalition forces continue to fight the war in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Taliban ‘shadow government’

Despite the presence of thousands of US and British troops, violence in Afghanistan has recently escalated and a report in The Times has suggested that in some areas of Afghanistan the Taliban is basically running a shadow government.

The Taliban are reportedly levying taxes, arresting criminals and holding court – and in one instance have also built a road.

A councillor in central Helmand told the paper the system was more efficient than the official Afghan government for which he works: “If the district level Taliban can’t settle it, it goes to the provincial level. If the provincial mullahs can’t find a solution, it goes to Pakistan.”