Attackers in the southwest of Pakistan, near the Balochistan Provincial capital of Quetta, attacked a convoy of NATO fuel tankers today, destroying at least 19. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Officials said that 13 of the tankers were totally destroyed while six others were seriously damaged in the attack. The attackers fled and no one, either attacks or drivers, were reported killed or wounded.

The overwhelming majority of NATO’s supplies for Afghanistan come through Pakistan, and there are two main routes, the western route through Balochistan, which was attacked today, and the Khyber Pass route, which has seen a huge number of attacks in and around Peshawar.

This has led NATO to attempt to create a new northern supply route through the former Soviet Union. Though this has been used for some equipment, the enormous cost of using this route has made it prohibitive for the huge supply of goods needed for a 150,000-strong occupation force.

Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz

• No Deal: US Restarted Pakistan Drone Strikes Despite Objections - February 22nd, 2012
• Syrian National Council Demands Foreign Invasion - February 22nd, 2012
• State Dept.: Pakistani Taliban 'Not Welcome' at Truce Talks - February 22nd, 2012
• Israeli FM: Our Decision to Attack Iran None of US, Russia's Business - February 22nd, 2012
• Hunger Strike Ends, but Adnan's Detention Without Charges Doesn't - February 22nd, 2012