PESHAWAR: Gunmen attacked a convoy of container trucks in Jamrud, carrying supplies to NATO troops in Afghanistan, killing one of the drivers, officials said.
It is the first such attack since Pakistan reopened its border to NATO supply convoys three weeks ago after a seven-month blockade staged in protest at a botched US air raid that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers at a border post.
The Pakistani Taliban have threatened to attack NATO trucks and their drivers, and right-wing and religious groups have held large demonstrations against the resumption of supply lines.
Tuesday's attack took place near the market in Jamrud town, local administration official Bakhtiar Khan said.
"Two armed men riding on a motorbike opened fire on a container carrying supplies for NATO troops across the border and killed its driver," Khan told AFP, adding that the driver's helper was seriously wounded.
Another administration official said the truck was part of a convoy of three or four vehicles travelling without security protection when they came under attack.
A hospital official in Jamrud confirmed the casualties.
"The driver was shifted to our hospital in serious condition, he died later," doctor Azam Khan of the state-run Jamrud hospital told AFP.
He recieved one bullet in the head and two in the chest, he added.
Pakistan on July 3 decided to reopen overland routes to NATO convoys crossing into Afghanistan, after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said sorry for the air strike deaths last November.
The crisis was the worst episode in Pakistan's decade-long partnership with Washington in the war in Afghanistan, with both sides still struggling to overcome a breakdown in trust.
So far relatively few NATO trucks have actually trickled across the border, with owners awaiting a deal on compensation for seven months' missed work and security guarantees in the southern port city of Karachi.
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@Waseem Yousaf: Dear Mr Yousaf, I tend to agree with you that it would have been better if our subcontinent had not been subjected to partition. Now that it has got divided and we cannot erase the history, we should live as good neighbours sharing our joys helping each other in times of difficulties. Best wishes.
The blockage of NATO Supply routes through Pakistan has been an inconvenience not only to the NATO forces in Afghanistan, but also for the thousands of people who make a living from cross-border commerce. These trucks are owned and operated by Pakistanis and Afghans. these supply trucks provide employment to many thousands of people and thus give better lives to their families. How can anyone not condemn the destruction of these trucks or the killing of innocent people who are just trying to earn an honest living to provide for their families? Our condolences go out to the family of the murdered truck driver and we pray for the early and complete recovery of the driver’s assistant who was injured in this terror attack.
We have to seriously think about what these terrorists really stand for. They do not care about human lives. Was this driver not a father, a husband, a son, a provider for his family? Do we not need to condemn these killings? The terrorists, if they get their way, will destroy the lives and the livelihood of every person in the region. We cannot let that happen.
Capt. Joseph Kreidel DET-United States Central Command www.centcom.mil/ur
oh where is Rehman Malik and his "fool proof" security?