Pakistan Militants Cut U.S. Supply Line

Explosion Damages Bridge Crucial To Transporting Military Supplies Into Afghanistan

(CBS/AP)  Militants blew up a bridge in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, temporarily cutting a major supply line for Western troops in Afghanistan, a government official said.

The attack was the latest in a series on the Khyber Pass by insurgents seeking to hamper the U.S.-led mission against the Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan.

It follows the abduction Monday of an American U.N. worker in the southwest of Pakistan, an attack that underscored the fragile security in the country as it battles al Qaeda militants.

Hidayat Ullah, a government official in the Khyber tribal area, said the bridge was around 15 miles northwest of the main city of Peshawar. He said trucks carrying NATO and U.S. supplies were unable to cross it.

It was not immediately clear whether supply convoys could bypass the damaged bridge and still reach Afghanistan.

Up to 75 percent of the supplies destined for U.S. and NATO troops in landlocked Afghanistan travel through Pakistan after being unloaded at the port of Karachi. Most are driven along the Khyber Pass.

Pakistan has dispatched paramilitary escorts for supply convoys and cracked down on militants in Khyber, but attacks have persisted, adding urgency to U.S and NATO efforts to find alternative supply routes.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's military said Tuesday it had killed at least 35 Islamist militants in a northwestern valley increasingly overrun with insurgents.

The army said in a statement that the militants died in an overnight operation in Khawaza Khela town in the Swat Valley.

Swat was once a popular tourist destination, but about two years ago militants began a violent campaign to enforce Taliban-style Islam there.

The American was kidnapped as he traveled to work in Quetta city in Baluchistan, a province that partly borders Afghanistan but has largely been spared the al Qaeda and Taliban insurgency in the northwest.

Police said Tuesday they were questioning several Afghans about the abduction of John Solecki (seen at left in a file photo), who headed the U.N. refugee office in the city, but were not treating them as suspects. His driver was shot and killed in the attack.

"We have opened investigations, and our various teams are working on this case and the effort is to safely recover the man," said senior officer Wazir Khan.

The government called the abduction a "dastardly terrorist act." But police said it was not clear whether Islamist militants, criminals seeking a ransom payment or members of a regional separatist group were responsible.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees has worked for three decades in the region helping hundreds of thousands of Afghans fleeing violence in their homeland.

Suspected militants have attacked or kidnapped several foreigners in recent months.

In August, Lynne Tracy, the top U.S. diplomat in the northwest, narrowly survived an attack on her vehicle in Peshawar by suspected militants. In November, also in Peshawar, gunmen shot and killed American aid worker Stephen Vance.

Soon after Monday's kidnapping, authorities sealed exit routes from Quetta, officers said. Police also increased patrols and security checks along roads leading to Afghanistan, fearing Solecki may be taken there.

Quetta has been mentioned by Afghan officials as a likely hiding place for Mullah Omar and other Taliban leaders thought to have fled Afghanistan after the U.S. invasion in 2001.

Baluchistan is also the scene of a low-level insurgency driven by nationalist groups wanting more regional autonomy. They are not known to target foreigners.

Meanwhile, at least 35 Islamist militants were killed in an overnight operation in Swat Valley, an area in the northwest which has been increasingly overrun with insurgents, Pakistan's military said in a statement.

Security forces used helicopter gunships and artillery in the attack, the army said.

Swat was once a popular tourist destination, but about two years ago militants began a violent campaign to enforce Taliban-style Islam there. The state responded with force, but residents say militants increasingly hold sway.

The region is now considered too dangerous for reporters to visit, making it difficult to verify casualty reports.

[fush2]

thats is so *** rude...were over there trying to help their ***** and they cut our supply line aint that something...i say all the american troops should leave as soon as possible...and let these people finish killing themselves

[petro49l]

Why is the Arab League allowing illicit street drugs, hard liquor, kiddie strippers, electronic smut, and child prostitutes? South Asia steeps in the immorality. The Middle East builds casinos with rigged games, usurious banks, and distribution centers for methamphetamine, exotic mushrooms, LSD, PCP, and extreme varieties of marijuana. Islam must send a message. Stop the world-wide catering to depraved Junkies.

[indamiddle]

do we miss bush yet???

emboldened terrorists...

[daviolo]

The US had been pouring aid to Pakistan,Afghanistan for years now..but they are obviously being being siphoned off by the leaders with nothing going to the natives..no wonder they are mad at the US only instead of at their leaders'' misrule.One cant blame them for wanting to fight & kill all the time.
Its also clear from above that their corrupt leaders cannot control & safeguard their citizens & their provinces are unhappy & clamoring for freedom.These unhappy provinces should be allowed to rule themselves as independent countries so that they get to decide their own destiny.
...else bring back a Saddam to rule over them.There was no suicide attacks on US troops under Saddam''s rule at least.

[fagsnaids]

if we want to win the war on terrorism..the very first thing we need to do is STOP ENTERTAINING THESE LIBERAL WHINES ABOUT VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF THESE B@STARDS

[fagsnaids]

I guess terrorism did not end when bush left office..

LIE #1 FROM THE LIBERALS.

[rickstas]

I thought this was supposed to be an English speaking forum.

[pehbek]

they are 100% muslims aren''t they??then why fight each others?ARe they must compel to fight each muslim to bring peace?No use to love to fight if killing own religion peoples

[daviolo]

afganistan & pakistan are land of hopelessness...brreeding baby killers,druggrowers,religion mmanufacrturers,...bteer US fench them up & gas them up & there''ll be world peace...enough bombblowers they bred

[pehbek]

the taliban like their drugs,viagras,women,killing innocent babies & women..so where is muslim faith in this??

[drputt45]

Bring everyone home, build more and taller fences and let the world sort it out. If they need us, they can ask.

[nincomp]

It''''s not U.S. forces in there cleaning them out, we''''re stuck with using drones as the cowards run and hide amongst the innocent THEY terrorize and control. What great warriors to take cover behind kids and the elderly, sane men and women don''''t take up jihad because they know the ones perpetrating the jihad are their worst enemy. Pakistan is cleaning up these a$$holes who have taken over the valley, good riddance.
Posted by promaclaura at 07:24 AM : Feb 03, 2009
+
The drones are operated by personnel 7000 miles away in Nevada. They are the real cowards afraid of hand to hand fight. If they are the real braves, they should be over there in hand to hand combat

[sarahrosen]

The situation in Afghanistan with supply lines is way more complicated than this report says. Did anyone else see the story over at FLYP this week about it (http://www.flypmedia.com/issues/22/#1/1)? They have a great map that explains exactly how bad stuff like this happens.

[sarahrosen]

The situation in Afghanistan with supply lines is way more complicated than this report says. Did anyone else see the story over at FLYP this week about it (http://www.flypmedia.com/issues/22/#1/1)? They have a great map that explains exactly how bad stuff like this happens.

[sarahrosen]

The situation in Afghanistan with supply lines is way more complicated than this report says. Did anyone else see the story over at FLYP this week about it (http://www.flypmedia.com/issues/22/#1/1)? They have a great map that explains exactly how bad stuff like this happens.

[petro49l]

Militants in Pakistan deal street drugs, smut, potent liquor, and kiddie prostitutes for a great profit. Why do the Pakistani Police tolerate their illicit activity? The same groups spill into Afghanistan. There is no reason to allow militant organizations who cater to craven Junkies.

[omnibus66]

Afghanistan is another unwinnable quagmire, just like Iraq. And if you think that we have, or will ''win'' in Iraq, just keep drinking the kool-aid while you listen to Rush Limbaugh.

Sending more troops to Afghanistan is a huge mistake. More deaths, more coffins, more grieving families are not the answer to anything. Let those people solve their own problems.

[promaclaura]

Posted by mysteriousjz-Those people are suffering do to their brothers in jihad. Did you read the article? It''s not U.S. forces in there cleaning them out, we''re stuck with using drones as the cowards run and hide amongst the innocent THEY terrorize and control. What great warriors to take cover behind kids and the elderly, sane men and women don''t take up jihad because they know the ones perpetrating the jihad are their worst enemy. Pakistan is cleaning up these a$$holes who have taken over the valley, good riddance.

[mysteriousjz]

The word "Militants" is used widely by "Angels of Peace" so that "insecured" people of the world can comfort themselves and sleep better tonight. It is all nothing, but struggle for power and domination and revenge by US/Zionists that want to rule the world. All who suffer are poor civilians who have no voice, just no voice at all. Your bruises get loud voice around the world, while their torn and shredded bodies are touted as evil. This is not justice, this is cowardice.

If justice were to prevail, then peace would come. Bombing people in their mudhouses is surely not justice. People who have seen their loved one shredded to pieces by bombs and shells, are surely now the "Militants," to defend themselves from "terror attacks" bestowed upon them by "Angels of Peace."

Wake up!!!! They can not swim to your shores with F16 on their backs. Do whatever with your lives, but just dont bomb defenseless men, women and children-Their anger will subside and will cool off.

[entropod]

Wow.

Pakistani Army claims.

Just as credible as American Army claims.

Sheesh.
ST


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George Washington, letter to Edward Carrington, May 1, 1796

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