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 QUETTA: At least one driver was killed as unknown gunmen set at least 27 NATO tankers on fire early Wednesday morning in Hazar Gunji area in Quetta. According to sources, the attack took place at about 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday when unknown gunmen riding on motorcycles opened fire at a NATO convoy parked in a parking lot located 15 minutes away from Quetta. The NATO convoy attacked comprised of 40 supply trucks, said sources, adding that the oil tankers caught fire following the attack. As the fire caused by the attack on the tankers is so huge, it might spread to the others parked nearby, said sources. They added that help has been asked from Quetta and nearby cities to reinforce the fire brigade extinguishing the fire; the city only possesses a dozen fire engines. Wednesday morning's attack on NATO supply trucks is the fourth of its kind since last Friday following a recent air strike by two NATO helicopters within Pakistan's territory, which killed three soldiers and injured three others. On Thursday, two NATO helicopters shelled a Pakistan army check post in Kurram agency in the country's northwest tribal area which borders Afghanistan, causing a strong protest from the Pakistani government over the NATO's violation of its territory right. Early on Friday morning, some 20 militants attacked a NATO convoy with rockets in Shikarpur, killing three people and leaving 27 NATO oil tankers completely burnt. Later on Friday evening, another two NATO supply trucks were attacked by a rocket in the country's southwest city of Khuzdar, during which two people were killed. On Monday morning, nine militants riding on motorcycles attacked a NATO convoy parked nearby Islamabad, leaving 12 people killed and 28 trucks torched. Following the attacks, Taliban claimed the responsibility for two of the three attacks and vowed to launch more attacks on NATO convoys in the country if NATO did not stop its air strikes over the Pakistani territory. |