Pakistani Taliban Saturday claimed responsibility for the attack on tankers carrying oil for NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Militants fired rockets on NATO oil tankers near the southern city of Shikarpur in Sindh province early Friday, destroying 27 tankers, and the police exchanged fire with the militants but the militants fled after the attack, according to district officers.

Spokesman for the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Azam Tariq said that "Siara Group" of Taliban has carried out the attack. He said Siara group is part of Hakimullah group.

He said all NATO supplies trucks would be targeted and TTP men have been tasked in the four provinces.

Tariq said that Siara group has been launched in South Waziristan but people from other areas are part of the outfit.

The attack occurred a day after Pakistan blocked supplies trucks for NATO forces in Afghanistan, apparently as protest against the NATO airstrikes which killed three Pakistani soldiers on Thursday.

Tariq alleged that some journalists have become "part of American propaganda" and are "using their pen against Taliban."

The Taliban spokesman said that TTP fighters have reached different areas in South Waziristan and are fighting against the security forces.

Thousands of Pakistani troops launched major air and ground offensive against militants in South Waziristan in October 2009 and expelled militants from the region.