PESHAWAR, Dec 15: Haulage companies have stopped delivering to foreign troops in Afghanistan after a major deterioration in security along the key supply route.

“We have stopped supplies to foreign forces in Afghanistan from today,” Mohammad Shakir Afridi, president of the Khyber Transport Association, told AFP on Monday.

“We have around 3,500 trucks, tankers and other vehicles. We are the major suppliers to Afghanistan, transporting about 60-70 per cent of goods,” he said.

He said the decision had been taken in view of worsening law and order along the 55kms stretch between Peshawar and the Khyber Pass. The bulk of the supplies and equipment required by Nato and US-led forces in Afghanistan is shipped to Karachi and taken by truck to depots outside Peshawar before being transported to Afghanistan.

Mr Afridi said drivers had been putting their lives at risk by transporting goods through the area.

“The situation is extremely bad for us,” he said. “We have nothing to do with politics, we want peace.”

Nato downplayed the development, saying its contractors were operating as normal.

“We believe there’s a strike at Khyber Transport Association, but it is currently not affecting Isaf (International Security Assistance Force),” said Capt Mark Windsor, chief public affairs officer with the Nato-led force. “We continue to monitor the impact of that. It is not our only means of supplies.”—AFP

Ali Hazrat Bacha adds: The government has decided to deploy security personnel to escort trucks and tankers from Peshawar to the border.

A police official said some of the 12 terminals on the Ring Road were vulnerable to attacks and security personnel had been deployed there. About half of the terminals were located in the Peshtakhara area, he said.

He said police and Frontier Corps personnel would patrol the route from Hayatabad to Grand Trunk Road and Frontier Constabulary would be deployed at various points.

He said that the focus of security arrangements was on Peshtakhara Chowk and PAF Chowk on the Ring Road.

Peshawar Cantonment SP Abdul Qadir Qamar said groups of militants, probably from Darra Adamkhel and Bara, carried out organised attacks on the supplies.

He said the situation in parts of Peshawar had improved to a great extent because of recent security steps.

Our Landi Kotal correspondent adds: Jamrud’s Assistant Political Agent Mohammad Fida Bangash said 190 trailers carrying supplies for Nato-US forces and Afghan Transit Trade goods had been escorted by security personnel to Torkham.He said over 600 personnel of Khasadar Force and Khyber Rifles were deployed at 15 checkpoints between Peshawar and Torkham and their number would be increased.