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Third Attack on NATO Supply Trucks - Four Killed

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | October 4, 2010 at 02:55 am

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The destruction of NATO Supply trucks inside Afghanistan continues. One major supply route is blocked by Pakistan.

Monday morning, a NATO convoy delivering fuel to U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, was attacked for the third time. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and vowed to continue these attacks until all resupply through Pakistan is stopped.

The attack occurred near a border crossing that had been closed by Pakistan in retaliation of a NATO helicopter attack inside Pakistan, which killed three.

NATO moves most of its non-lethal supplies through Pakistan. Pakistan has become more and more volatile over the past few weeks. The government can't seem to get control over terrorists within its borders.

NATO has since apologized for its helicopter attacks inside of Pakistan. High level diplomacy is ongoing to get the border reopened.

Former Pakistani President Musharaf, who is exiled in England, has warned of a military coup. He is also expected to start a new political party and is planning his return to Pakistan.

Since Afghanistan is a land locked country, these supply routes are essential, although not critical, to NATO's operations in Pakistan.

While NATO and the United States have alternative supply routes into Afghanistan, the Pakistani ones are the cheapest and most convenient. Most of the coalition's non-lethal supplies are transported over Pakistani soil after being unloaded at docks in Karachi, a port city in the south.
On Friday, a day after the closure of the Khyber Pass route to NATO and U.S. traffic, there were two attacks on oil tankers headed to the country, one of which was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban.

NATO and the Obama Administration have been targeting terrorists inside Pakistan. While claims have been made that senior Al Qu'aida and Taliban commanders have been killed, there has also been a significant amount of collateral damage.

This is starting to smell more and more like Cambodia during the Vietnam era.

Bombings and Shootings also killed three NATO soldiers and wounded the Deputy Mayor of Kandahar. The total number of NATO deaths this year, according AFP has now risen to 559, the highest in the nine year war.

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"thirty-aught-six" (not verified)

at 09:24 on October 4th, 2010

Logistical supply has always been a military target. The Ho Chi Minh trail? It's up to NATO and U.S. Forces to sweep the convoy routes and not expect that they have free passage in a guerrilla war. Pakistan is not a safe haven for NATO and U.S. Forces. It IS a safe haven for al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 09:57 on October 4th, 2010

Pakistan is a major problem for NATO. Mostly private contractors run those logistical supply trains.

I agree that NATO needs some sort of agreement with Pakistan to either have Pakistani forces protect the trains or get authority to accompany them. With the route blocked and these vehicles holding up to await the reopening of the border, they have become more vulnerable.