Pakistani firefighters extinguish burning NATO supply oil tankers and goods trucks at a terminal following an overnight attack by gunmen in Quetta. (file photo)<\/p>\n
Pakistani security forces have arrested at least 12 terror suspects allegedly involved in torching NATO tankers in the country™s troubled northwest.\n<\/p>\n
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.\n<\/p>\n
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.\n<\/p>\n
Security sources say the suspects have confessed to torching the NATO vehicles and killing or wounding their drivers.\n<\/p>\n
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.\n<\/p>\n
Hundreds of NATO tankers and containers have been destroyed in different parts of Pakistan during the past three years.\n<\/p>\n
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.\n<\/p>\n
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.\n<\/p>\n
JR\/KA
\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n