Taliban warn truckers to stop supplying fuel to NATO forces in Afghanistan

Karachi, June 21 : The Taliban have reportedly threatened the oil companies in Karachi against supplying fuel to the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, else they would blow up their vehicles and houses.

The extremists distributed leaflets in Shireen Jinnah Colony on Mauripur Road warning transporters against supplying oil to coalition forces in Afghanistan, reported the Daily Times.

Workers from transport companies said the leaflets contained messages written in Urdu, but did not specify if the warning was from the local or Afghan Taliban.

A senior truck owners' association official said that the leaflets specifically named the Afridi, Shinwari and Khyberi transport companies. "The All Pakistan Oil Tanker Owners Association does not supply oil or any other goods to Afghanistan," the paper quoted Akram Khan Durrani, the organisation's general secretary, as saying.

Sindh Home Secretary Arif Ahmed Khan said transporters would be given protection if they contacted the government.

On May 9, three men abducted Shoukat Afridi - whose company deals with NATO forces - from Clifton Town. A police source said he had been taken to the Tribal Areas. His brother Taj Afridi declined to comment, but said negotiations with the kidnappers were underway.

ANI