Islamabad, Aug 2 : Militants torched 11 tankers carrying oil for NATO forces in Afghanistan in Pakistan's southern Sindh and southwest Balochistan provinces, killing one person and injuring five others, security officials said today.
Militants torched 10 tankers in Khairpur district of Sindh province, injuring five people.
Three drivers were among the five persons injured in the attack, police said. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Doctors said two drivers were hit by bullets.
According to police, the incident took place late last night.
The suspected militants fired at the oil tankers, which were going from the port city of Karachi to the northwestern city of Peshawar, and then torched them.
The flames from the tankers spread in minutes and burnt a roadside hotel and three shops.
Traffic was suspended on the National Highway.
Fire tenders, facing problems because of the huge flames, managed to extinguish the fire after five hours, witnesses said.
Footage on TV showed the tankers burning on the highway. The suspected militants fled after the attack.
No group claimed responsibility for the incident.
Police launched a search to apprehend the attackers but no one was arrested till this morning.
In a separate incident, suspected militants attacked a NATO tanker in Balochistan province today and killed its driver, security officials said.
The militants attacked the tanker in Kari Door area of Mastung district, officials of the Levies militia said.
The attackers set the tanker on fire after shooting and killing the driver.
Security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search for the attacker.
Attacks by suspected militants on NATO trucks are common in Pakistan's restive northwest and southwest but such attacks are rare in Sindh province.
Hundreds of vehicles have been destroyed and dozens killed in these attacks. PTI
