PESHAWAR, Oct 21: Two tankers transporting fuel to a US army base in Afghanistan were apparently blown up by saboteurs on the Kohat Road on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday night.

The tankers owned by a private company responsible for supplying fuel to the US forces at Bagram base in the Parwan province of Afghanistan, caught fire at 10pm near a police checkpoint at Zangali on the Kohat Road.

"We are still investigating the causes of the explosions, which burst only the tyres of the vehicles," said SSP (Operations) Abid Ali. He added that he could not rule out the possibility of sabotage.

The owner of the tankers, Haji Kabul Sher, blamed fuel vapours for the fire which gutted the vehicles.

The government has allowed several contractors to transport fuel to the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan. But many oil tankers have been blown up by saboteurs in the past at Chaman in Baloshistan.

A day before the presidential election in Afghanistan, the Afghan National Army seized an oil tanker laden with explosive in the Spin Boldak area of Kandahar. Three Pakistanis, who were carrying the truck, were arrested.