Pakistani firefighters extinguish burning NATO supply oil tankers and goods trucks at a terminal following an overnight attack by gunmen in Quetta. (file photo)
Pakistani security forces have arrested at least 12 terror suspects allegedly involved in torching NATO tankers in the country™s troubled northwest.
The arrests were made after paramilitary troops carried out a series of raids in the town of Hub, 700 kilometers southeast of Quetta which is the capital of the volatile southwestern province of Balochistan.
œWe arrested a gang of 12 people who have been involved in destroying NATO containers,” media outlets quoted a senior regional security official as saying.
Security sources say the suspects have confessed to torching the NATO vehicles and killing or wounding their drivers.
The developments come days after pro-Taliban militants in the restive region set fire to at least nine NATO tankers carrying supplies to US-led forces in neighboring Afghanistan.
Hundreds of NATO tankers and containers have been destroyed in different parts of Pakistan during the past three years.
Despite the Pakistani government’s operations against criminal gangs and Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and associated groups, they have been able to spread their influence in various regions of the country and kill thousands of people.
The NATO combat mission is due to end next year. Pakistan and the United States have signed a deal allowing NATO supply convoys to travel into Afghanistan until the end of 2015.
JR/KA
Copyright: Press TV