NATO Afghan supply route is cut

Islamic militants cut a major supply route for Western troops in Afghanistan by blowing up a bridge in north-west Pakistan.

Yesterday’s attack was the latest in a series on the Khyber Pass by insurgents seeking to hamper the mission against the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan.

A NATO spokesman confirmed that supplies had been halted “for the time being”, but stressed the alliance was in no danger of running out of food, equipment or fuel.

The attack will add urgency to NATO efforts to find alternative supply routes to landlocked Afghanistan, an already vital task given American plans to double its troop numbers in the country.