One dead in attack on NATO tankers in Khyber

Officials say four attackers riding two motorbikes attacked a convoy of six oil tankers

PESHAWAR: Gunmen in Khyber Agency opened fire on tankers carrying fuel for Nato troops in Afghanistan on Monday, killing a driver and wounding two others, officials said.

The incident happened in the Jamrud area of Khyber, one of seven semi-autonomous tribal regions where the military has been battling insurgents for years.

"A convoy of six oil tankers was heading towards Afghanistan when four attackers riding two motorbikes attacked the first tanker, killing its driver," senior local administration official Irshad Khan told AFP.

He said the tanker overturned as a result of the firing, adding two other persons, including a helper and a passer-by, were injured.

Khan said the remaining five tankers returned to Peshawar after the attack.

Another local administration official Mehtab Khan confirmed the incident and casualties.

Nato supply trucks, which carry everything from fuel to munitions and food, often come under attack on their journey between Karachi and border crossing points.

The coalition is winding down operations in Afghanistan with its 44,000 combat troops due to pull out by the end of this year.