Tribal rebels blow up two gas pipelines in Pakistan

QUETTA, Pakistan, May 19 : Suspected tribal militants blew up two natural gas pipelines in Pakistan's troubled southwest province of Baluchistan overnight, officials said today.

One pipeline was blown up at Goh, around 9 km (6 miles) from Sui, the town where the main production plant for Pakistan's largest gas field is located.

The second was attacked an hour later on the Loti gas field supplying the Sui plant.

Baluchistan, Pakistan's largest but poorest of four provinces, is home to the country's largest gas and oil reserves.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attacks on the pipelines, but officials said they believed Baluch militants were responsible.

Baluch militants resent local resources being used to benefit other regions and have stepped up attacks in recent months on gas pipelines, rail links and government buildings and army bases in the province.

On Wednesday, another pipeline was blown up at Dera Bugti, the home town of tribal chieftain Nawab Akbar Bugti, who is leading the movement for greater autonomy for Baluch tribals.

Six police commandoes were killed last week in a series of landmine blasts at a training school near the provincial capital of Quetta, an attack also blamed on Baluch militants.

The simmering revolt escalated in December when rebel tribesmen fired rockets during a visit by President Pervez Musharraf to a Baluch town.

Musharraf has announced plans for major infrastructure projects in Baluchistan to win back support but authorities have vowed to deal sternly with the militants.

Reuters