Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Over 800,000 flee Pakistan anti-militant offensive

-

More than 800,000 people have fled a major military offensive against the Taliban in a Pakistani tribal area, officials said Wednesday.

Tens of thousands of families have left the North Waziristan tribal area for the nearby town of Bannu.

Hundreds more have moved further afield to the towns of Lakki Marwat, Karak and Dera Ismail Khan since the attacks began in mid-June.

Officials from the FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) said they were checking registrations for duplicates, meaning the figure may come down.

The military is using troops, tanks and jets in North Waziristan and has vowed to wipe out strongholds which insurgents have used to mount countless deadly attacks in recent years.

"Some 833,274 people or 66,726 migrating families from North Waziristan were registered in cities of Bannu and Peshawar until Tuesday evening," Arshad Khan, FDMA director general, told AFP.

Khan said 361,459 of the displaced were children and 248,633 women.

The military said jets on Tuesday bombed and destroyed seven insurgent hideouts in Degan village, a stronghold of Taliban militants, killing at least 13 rebels.

So far 399 militants and 20 soldiers have been killed in the offensive, according to the military.

The area is currently off-limits to journalists, making it impossible to verify military claims about the number and identity of those killed.

The assault was launched on June 15 after a dramatic attack on Karachi airport last month which killed dozens of people and marked the end of a faltering peace process with the Pakistani Taliban.

The rugged mountainous area has been a hideout for years for Islamist militants of all stripes -- including Al-Qaeda and the homegrown Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan as well as foreign fighters including Uzbeks and Uighurs.

More than 800,000 people have fled a major military offensive against the Taliban in a Pakistani tribal area, officials said Wednesday.

Tens of thousands of families have left the North Waziristan tribal area for the nearby town of Bannu.

Hundreds more have moved further afield to the towns of Lakki Marwat, Karak and Dera Ismail Khan since the attacks began in mid-June.

Officials from the FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) said they were checking registrations for duplicates, meaning the figure may come down.

The military is using troops, tanks and jets in North Waziristan and has vowed to wipe out strongholds which insurgents have used to mount countless deadly attacks in recent years.

“Some 833,274 people or 66,726 migrating families from North Waziristan were registered in cities of Bannu and Peshawar until Tuesday evening,” Arshad Khan, FDMA director general, told AFP.

Khan said 361,459 of the displaced were children and 248,633 women.

The military said jets on Tuesday bombed and destroyed seven insurgent hideouts in Degan village, a stronghold of Taliban militants, killing at least 13 rebels.

So far 399 militants and 20 soldiers have been killed in the offensive, according to the military.

The area is currently off-limits to journalists, making it impossible to verify military claims about the number and identity of those killed.

The assault was launched on June 15 after a dramatic attack on Karachi airport last month which killed dozens of people and marked the end of a faltering peace process with the Pakistani Taliban.

The rugged mountainous area has been a hideout for years for Islamist militants of all stripes — including Al-Qaeda and the homegrown Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan as well as foreign fighters including Uzbeks and Uighurs.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

Entertainment

Liam Hemsworth as Owen Brophy in 'Lonely Planet.' Photo Credit: Hilary Bronwyn Gayle, Netflix.Australian actor Liam Hemsworth stars in the new movie “Lonely Planet”...

Business

The European Central Bank is expected to lower interest rates again this week.

Business

Many professionals do not realise that just by working in certain industries, their personal data—emails, passwords, financial details—can be compromised.

Social Media

One local police report suggests that the vigilantes may be motivated by financial gains.