PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Pakistani Taliban fighters in the restive tribal belt along the Afghan border warned of all-out war should Islamabad launch a military effort in the region.
Washington linked Pakistani security to the success of its mission in Afghanistan, saying many Taliban and al-Qaida leaders are hiding out in the mountainous border provinces of Pakistan.
Pakistan launched an independent operation against militants in October, claiming major victories against key militant figures. The Taliban responded with a spate of suicide operations across the country.
The Taliban distributed a pamphlet during the weekend saying the government has violated its agreements, warning against all-out war should military incursions escalate, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reports.
Meanwhile, armed militants stormed a fuel truck in northwest Pakistan that was ferrying supplies to NATO forces in Afghanistan.
There were no claims of responsibility for the Monday attack, Dawn reported, but pointed to the Taliban and Lashkar-i-Islam as perpetrators of past attacks on NATO convoys.
Militants struck a fuel tanker near the volatile Khyber Pass, a key supply route into Afghanistan, and ambushed three supply trucks last week.
