Unidentified gunmen killed at least three people and set 28 Nato oil tankers on fire carrying fuel for Nato and US forces in Afghanistan in Islamabad on Monday.
Many tankers caught fire during the attack. Rescue sources said at least three people died. The sources added that seven others were injured in the attack.
A vital land route for Nato supplies for Afghanistan that has been blocked for three days will reopen “relatively quickly,” Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington told a US news channel on Sunday.
Pakistan halted the Nato convoys on Thursday after Nato helicopters killed three Pakistani soldiers.
“I think the supply line will be open relatively quickly,” he said, adding that he expected it would take “less than a week.”
“It’s not a blockade. It’s just a temporary suspension of the convoys moving through,” Haqqani added.
Officials say nearly 70 per cent of Nato supplies and 40 per cent of its fuel requirements are shipped via Pakistan for some 160,000 US-led troops in Afghanistan.
Pakistan's policy seems to be to keep the pot simmering in Afghanistan. These stepped up attacks on NATO convoys at the same time when the supply line is stopped to NATO appear more a case of coordination than anything else. It appears Pakistan is happy with making money of supplying to NATO and at the same time keeping them busy with Taliban. Pakistan is running with the hare and hunting with the hounds?
Pakistan is running with the hare and hunting with the hounds?
Indeed the country has every right to look both ways... in fact Pakistan needs to play a serious game here... Nato is not here forever but the Taliban most likely will remain a force for some time. Besides America has done the same before so why cannot Pakistan play ball like America... sure as Muslims we have different moral codes... but in the end we all want the best for our future, right now Pakistan has to play it's cards right.
If, and its a big if, Nato win... Pakistan cant be denied it's praise in working with them to achieve the objective.... but if the Taliban win... which is what is more likey right now then Pakistan still wants to be in a position were it can say "yeah we helped.. you couldn't have done it without us" Thus as Macheaveli would say we have the measure of both players in this game and at the same time we are not only dealing the cards... but cutting them too.
Pakistan's policy seems to be to keep the pot simmering in Afghanistan. These stepped up attacks on NATO convoys at the same time when the supply line is stopped to NATO appear more a case of coordination than anything else. It appears Pakistan is happy with making money of supplying to NATO and at the same time keeping them busy with Taliban. Pakistan is running with the hare and hunting with the hounds?
Indeed the country has every right to look both ways... in fact Pakistan needs to play a serious game here... Nato is not here forever but the Taliban most likely will remain a force for some time. Besides America has done the same before so why cannot Pakistan play ball like America... sure as Muslims we have different moral codes... but in the end we all want the best for our future, right now Pakistan has to play it's cards right.
If, and its a big if, Nato win... Pakistan cant be denied it's praise in working with them to achieve the objective.... but if the Taliban win... which is what is more likey right now then Pakistan still wants to be in a position were it can say "yeah we helped.. you couldn't have done it without us" Thus as Macheaveli would say we have the measure of both players in this game and at the same time we are not only dealing the cards... but cutting them too.
Is this policy really working that well for Pakistan? NATO seems to have had enough with the sanctuaries, money, supplies, reinforcements and weapons that Taliban are getting from Pakistan. They are moving to manned and unmanned military strikes. Taliban, OTOH, have been attacking Pakistan army and people for providing support to US and NATO. The end result of this policy of keeping the pot simmering is a lot of blood being spilled in Pakistan, FATA and Afghanistan and Pakistan not really making any friends or earning any goodwill from either the hare or hounds. Neither the Taliban nor Karzai is considerate of Pakistan's interests in the region (Durand line, access to central asia, etc.)
call me whatever, i'm all for burning nato supplies, as long as no life is lost and no national assets are burnt or damaged, when there was no war these transporters were still doing business, they can continue their business staying outside of this nato supply. before hitting these convoys, they should give enough time to the drivers and support staff to run away first
call me whatever, i'm all for burning nato supplies, as long as no life is lost and no national assets are burnt or damaged, when there was no war these transporters were still doing business, they can continue their business staying outside of this nato supply. before hitting these convoys, they should give enough time to the drivers and support staff to run away first
So you agree that because of the murder committed during this particular attack, those responsible should be hunted down with the full force of the law and executed by hanging?
So you agree that because of the murder committed during this particular attack, those responsible should be hunted down with the full force of the law and executed by hanging?
^ sure then who's job is it to question them, and make them work? of course our Govt. they are actually making a case for NATO/US to ask for foreign forces to take the charge of providing security to their vehicles. this is high time we entirely cut off the route. If they pay the compensation demanded by Pakistan, only then we should allow their non-military cargo, that is only food/water and cloths
^ sure then who's job is it to question them, and make them work? of course our Govt. they are actually making a case for NATO/US to ask for foreign forces to take the charge of providing security to their vehicles. this is high time we entirely cut off the route. If they pay the compensation demanded by Pakistan, only then we should allow their non-military cargo, that is only food/water and cloths
Not really. The government already provides security through a police escort for tankers while they are moving. When they stop for the night, however, the police escort is withdrawn and private contractors paid by NATO take over security.
Despite the fact that the TTP claimed responsibility, Rehman Malik insisted that these tanker attacks are the manisfestation of anger by the people against NATO as a result of NATO attacks across the border.
In other words, the government is deilberately using tanker attacks as leverage against NATO over border attacks.
^ i knew that govt provides "some kind of police escort" but i didn't know its for day time only. general public does not carry out such actions, whatever malik is saying is rubbish like always. as i said before, i believe this increase in attacks on NATO tankers is orchestrated by NATO itself, to find an excuse why foreign troops should be allowed to operate inside Pakistan
all we need is someone with a little courage to clearly tell them that these attacks or any upcoming false flag will not help them further expand their operations inside pakistan, in the mean time, continue to hamper their line of communication and cargo
Aye i’m hating the way lives are beign lost which is wrong… But that said this is Pakistans answer to Nato like the Boston Tea Party was the American answer to the British.
