Taliban threatens to attack Afghanistan-bound NATO vehicles

Islamabad, Jul 4: The outlawed

Pakistan has threatened to attack Afghanistan-bound

vehicles after Islamabad ended a seven-month blockade of supply routes following a US apology for a cross-border attack that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

After Pakistan's Defence Committee of the Cabinet decided yesterday to reopen the supply lines, Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said his group’s fighters would attack NATO vehicles passing through the country. The TTP had made all arrangements for attacking NATO trucks and oil tankers in Pakistan, he said.

"They would see how our fighters attack them (NATO vehicles) while passing through the country. We will not allow Pakistan's routes to be used for the supply of lethal arms that could later be used against the people of Afghanistan," Ehsan was quoted as saying by The News daily. "Afghans are our brothers and we would not allow the US to take their supplies through Pakistan to kill innocent people," he warned.

While announcing the government's decision to reopen the supply routes, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said last night that Pakistan will not allow any lethal cargo to be transported through its territory. An exception will be made only for lethal equipment to be provided to the Afghan national security forces, he said.

Ehsan said the Taliban "were shocked to hear that Pakistan has opened the NATO supply lines". He claimed the closure of the routes was “a drama staged by the Pakistani rulers to get maximum benefit from the US. Pakistani rulers have no love (for) the country and the people."

PTI