22,000 Pakistanis flee fighting near Afghan border

PESHAWAR: About 22,000 Pakistani villagers have fled military operations against militants in a tribal region near the Afghan border, FC officials said Friday.

The offensive, involving aerial bombing, artillery and ground troops, began Jan. 27 in Mohmand, the official said. He said nearly 70 insurgents had been killed so far.

Pakistan's military has carried out several military operation in the country's remote tribal regions bordering Afghanistan over the last three years.

He said an estimated 22,000 people had been displaced by the Mohmand operations. They were living in a government building, schools and three camps away from the fighting. He said the United Nations was providing food, water and medical assistance to the people.