PAKISTAN: Four trucks carrying oil to NATO forces in Afghanistan are set on fire near Peshawar

Record ID: 344072

  • Title: PAKISTAN: Four trucks carrying oil to NATO forces in Afghanistan are set on fire near Peshawar
  • Date: 9th February 2011
  • Summary: PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (FEBRUARY 8, 2011) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WATCHING RISING SMOKE FIREFIGHTERS DOUSING FLAMES ON TANKER VARIOUS OF OIL TANKER ON FIRE FIREFIGHTERS TRYING TO DOUSE FIRE PAN OF SITE OF FIRE FIRE ENGINE SPRAYING WATER ON BURNING VEHICLES CARS SCORCHED BY FIRE VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS TRYING TO DOUSE FIRE PEOPLE WATCHING TANKER GO UP IN FLAMES
  • Embargoed: 24th February 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan, Pakistan
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,War / Fighting
  • Reuters ID: LVAE0QLLB6A3YZR9Y6W298E0EUQY
  • Story Text: Four trucks carrying fuel supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan caught fire after small bombs planted underneath them exploded in a market on the outskirts of Peshawar on Tuesday (February 8).
    There were no casualties.
    Witnesses said the explosion set one fuel truck parked in the market on fire. The blaze soon spread to three other trucks parked alongside.
    Firefighters doused the fire after more than two hours About three-quarters of all cargo for NATO forces in Afghanistan travels through Pakistan, most of it via two main border crossings: Chaman north of Quetta in Baluchistan and Torkham at the Khyber Pass.
    The third crossing used to get into Afghanistan is via the northern distribution network across Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
    Sensitive gear like ammunition, weapons and critical equipment is usually flown in.
    On September 30, after a cross-border NATO helicopter attack killed two Pakistani soldiers, Pakistan shut its main northwestern border crossing to NATO supply vehicles for 11 days.
    With the closing of the border crossing, hundreds of trucks and tankers were stalled on both sides of the border, and scores of NATO supply vehicles were destroyed in gun and arson attacks by Taliban militants determined to disrupt the route and avenge U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan's tribal belt.
    Pakistan is a crucial ally to the United States in its efforts to stabilise Afghanistan, but analysts say border incursions and disruptions to NATO supplies indicate growing tensions in the relationship.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register