By NNN-PTI,
Islamabad : Pro-Taliban militants struck at a terminal in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, used by trucks ferrying supplying to US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, setting on fire up to 60 vehicles and container trucks today.
The heavily armed militants stormed Bilal Terminal in the early hours after opening fire at watchmen. They then lobbed grenades and torched container trucks and other cars, including Humvee armoured vehicles, TV channels reported.
It was the second such attack since yesterday and the third since December 1. Three persons were killed and over 150 vehicles meant for US-led forces in Afghanistan were destroyed when scores of militants stormed two terminals in Peshawar yesterday.
Witnesses said container trucks containing supplies and heavy equipment were destroyed in today’s attack. Some reports said the militants also used rockets during the strike. There were no reports of casualties in the incident.
Senior Superintendent of Police Kashif Alam told reporters that fire tenders were called in to the control the ablaze.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack but authorities usually blame the local Taliban for such strikes.
On December 1, two persons were killed and over two dozen trucks were damaged when militants attacked another depot. Peshawar has about 20 terminals that are used by trucks ferrying supplies to US forces in Afghanistan.
Following yesterday’s attack, authorities had suspended supplies to NATO forces through Peshawar for the second time in a month.
Militants regularly attack and hijack NATO supply vehicles on the route to Torkham, the main crossing point on the Afghan-Pakistan border just west of the Khyber Pass. The Pakistani and Afghan Taliban have on often warned drivers not to ferry supplies for NATO forces.