December 04, 2008	Thursday	Zilhaj 5, 1429

LANDI KOTAL, Dec 3: A convoy carrying goods for Nato forces in Afghanistan was hit by roadside bombs on Peshawar-Torkham highway on Wednesday.

Officials said that two explosive devices went off one after another as the convoy, comprising more than a hundred trailers and oil tankers, was passing near Shagai Fort.

The blasts caused minor damage to a vehicle. Traffic on the highway was also suspended for some time after the blasts. Khasaddar personnel later managed to restore traffic and allowed the convoy to proceed towards Torkham border.

Sources said that Khasadar force also found two other bombs which were planted along the route of the convoy. They said that first Khasadars opened fire on the bombs to explode them but later they pulled them with a rope and exploded them safely.

The Wednesday incident is third of its kind after Khyber Agency administration on November 17 arranged security escort to all vehicles carrying goods to Nato forces in Afghanistan.

Three persons sustained injuries and a vehicle was damaged in a similar road side explosion near Torkham border on Tuesday.

The authorities decided to provide escort to the convoy after the hijacking of 13 vehicles carrying military hardware for Nato forces and wheat supplies to Afghanistan by militants in Jamrud on November 10.

Militants have targeted nearly 70 such vehicles since June this year. Anonymous threatening letters were distributed at Torkham border in June this year, warning the transporters to desist from carrying supplies to Nato forces in Afghanistan.

There are a total of 15 joint checkposts of Khasaddar and Khyber Rifles on the 35-kilometre Peshawar-Torkham road but Khyber Agency political administration have so far been unable to control bombing attacks on such vehicles.

TRADER, SON KIDNAPPED: A local trader and his son were kidnapped by unidentified persons on Landi Kotal by-pass here on Wednesday, officials and residents said.

They said that Maqbool Mian and his son Walid Mian were going to their village Mukhtarkhel near Landi Kotal when the kidnappers whisked them away in a car.

According to sources this was seventh incident of kidnapping for ransom involving traders in the tribal region during the past two weeks. They suspected that local militants were involved in the kidnapping incidents.