Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks on NATO tankers in which 12 people were killed and 28 NATO oil tankers destroyed early Monday morning in Rawalpindi, a city near Pakistan's capital Islamabad, reported local media.

Local TV channels Geo and ARY reported that a Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack. He was quoted as saying that attacks will be stepped up on the NATO supplies trucks.

The militants stepped up attacks in Pakistan on oil tankers and containers, carrying supplies for foreign troops after the recent NATO airstrikes in a Pakistani tribal region.

NATO helicopters carried out three strikes in Kurram tribal area last month, killing three soldiers, the army said.

Pakistan as a protest also blocked NATO supplies after the attacks and the ban entered its 5th day on Monday.

The latest attack on NATO supplies trucks occurred near Islamabad early Monday, the second major attack in a week.

Police said that attackers riding on motorcycles opened fire at a NATO convoy near a defense housing society. The attackers also pulled the people out of the trucks and shot them dead, truckers, who had fled, said.

On Friday, some 20 militants attacked a NATO convoy with rockets in Shikarpur, a city in southern Sindh province, torching 27 NATO oil tankers.

Some 70 percent of NATO supplies and 40 percent of its fuel are being shipped to Afghanistan via Pakistan.