Fresh attacks hit Pak NATO terminals
Unknown gunmen have attacked two separate NATO terminals in Pakistan's tribal northwest, destroying 37 Afghanistan-bound vehicles.
This is the fifth time in the past 10 days that militants attack truck stands on Ring road area in the provincial capital of Peshawar, frequented by trucks that carry supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Peshawar police officials told Press TV that militants fired rockets at Bilal terminal late on Friday, destroying 10 supply trucks and 15 containers bound for Afghanistan.
Numerous explosions rocked the NATO terminal while the gunmen flung petrol bombs at the terminal, where about a hundred supply containers as well as Humvee transport vehicles were parked, the officials added.
Fire brigades rushed to the scene and after an hour-long struggle could finally maintain the fire.
There was no immediate report of casualties.
In the second attack on another NATO terminal in the same locality, at least a dozen more containers were targeted and destroyed.
The ambush comes just a few days after two sophisticated Taliban raids saw hundreds of militants attacking NATO terminals, wrecking more than 260 vehicles, including trucks, containers, jeeps and other supply means.
The recent strikes have prompted government officials to consider relocating the NATO terminals to safer areas outside Peshawar, while sending paramilitary forces to guard the vehicles.
Pakistan's tribal zones near the border with Afghanistan, considered militant safe havens, suffer increasing insurgent attacks since the US-led invasion of their western neighbor toppled Taliban's regime in 2001 and sent militants fleeing across the border.
ZHD/DT