Bannu, Pakistan: Pakistani helicopter gunships pounded militant targets in the country’s northwest on Friday, killing up to 20 militants, as the number of civilians fleeing an expected ground offensive passed 200,000.
Nearly 150,000 people have left North Waziristan tribal area on the Afghan border this week after the military launched a long-awaited assault against Taliban hideouts.
The authorities eased a shoot-on-sight curfew on Wednesday to give civilians a chance to leave before troops begin a full-blooded ground operation.
A senior security official said that helicopter gunships targeted militant hideouts in an early morning raid in Kutabkhel area of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan, killing up to 20 militants.
A local intelligence official also confirmed the attack and casualties.
Nearly 250 insurgents have been killed since the start of the operation on Sunday, according to security officials, though it is not possible to confirm the number or identity of those killed.
Meanwhile, two top Pakistani Taliban commanders were also killed during a search operation in Karachi by the paramilitary Rangers.
Pakistan has also sought extradition of TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah from Afghanistan and dismantling of the militant group’s hideouts.
