More Pakistanis flee army offensive against Taliban

More Pakistani villagers have fled their homes in Pakistan’s North Waziristan region, fearing a major military operation by armed forces against Taliban militants.

Thousands of villagers have been displaced after the air force launched airstrikes against militant hideouts in North Waziristan since two weeks ago, after the Taliban claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks against security forces.

The Pakistani army has not yet provided any comments on the possibility of further operations.

The government claims all those who were killed in the January 21 operation were militants, but local residents in the volatile region bordering Afghanistan says the death toll included many civilians.

Fearing a full-fledged military onslaught, a wave of people have left the region to take shelter in schools, private homes and veterinary clinics in the normally more peaceful areas of Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan on the edge of the tribal belt.

“They are moving their families in anticipation of an army operation,” said a government relief official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“There is no operation going on and we as a government body have not been informed about it either, but the people seem to be afraid. They want to flee before there is a state of emergency.”

According to the Pakistani army, at least 40 militants have been killed in the operation so far.

Thousands of Pakistani people have lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001 when the country entered an alliance with the US on the so-called war against terrorism, according to local media.