NATO tankers hit again in Pakistan

The fourth attack on NATO convoys in less than a week is straining relations between Pakistan and the U.S.

As a result of strong suspicions that many Pakistani officials are sympathetic towards the Taliban, the alliance between Pakistan and the U.S. is shaky at the best of times. Relations worsened last Thursday when Pakistan closed the Torkham border crossing into Afghanistan to protest NATO strikes in Pakistan, one of which killed three Pakistani soldiers. NATO uses Pakistani highways to transport supplies to its bases in Afghanistan, and as convoys are rerouted to other border crossings and traffic backs up, convoys are being picked off by militants. Early Monday morning, four people were killed and seven injured when 20 NATO fuel trucks were set on fire. The Pakistani Taliban is claiming responsibility. Later in the day, unknown gunmen attacked two more trucks, killing one driver.