PAKISTAN:Thousands fled Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area yesterday as airforce jets launched repeated strikes against militant positions after four days of clashes left almost 250 dead.
The fighting began after an army convoy was ambushed on Saturday near the town of Mir Ali. Residents of the town, which has a reputation as a Taliban and al-Qaeda stronghold, fled the fighting in cars and tractors and on foot.
"The area is still tense," Maj-Gen Waheed Arshad, a spokesman for the Pakistani military said. "There have been a lot of clashes, intense clashes, where almost 200 militants and 45 soldiers have lost their lives."
Caught between the militants and the military, many civilians have also been killed. "The local population has often been supportive of [ the militants], even if it is by force, but they are the main sufferers here," said military analyst Talat Masood.
"We don't have any place to live," a villager, Mohammad Anwar, reported. "We have sent our children to other areas because children are scared that the bombing could start again."
Having called in air strikes, the military said it was gaining the upper hand. "We have taken some very strong steps against the militants recently, checking their freedom of movement and stopping their extortion and kidnapping activities," said Maj-Gen Arshad.
Many soldiers have been kidnapped, often dozens at a time.
Reports that soldiers' bodies were found with their throats cut have added to the tension.