Refugees Caught in Pakistan's Conflict

Life is especially difficult for people in Pakistans North West Frontier Province. Ongoing fighting between the government and Taliban insurgents has taken a toll on many peoples livelihoods. Heres more on the situation.
These people are Pakistan's internally displaced.

They are among thousands fleeing the fighting in the Swat valley, a once popular tourist spot 130 kilometers away from Islamabad.

Around 200,000 people have left the region after the government briefly lifted a curfew.

At least half a million more people are expected to join them at these camps set up by the UNHCR.

Pakistan is trying to flush out the Taliban from the region.

Military sources say they've killed around 200 militants in the past 24 hours.

On Thursday a full-scale offensive was launched by the country's government.

Pakistan's president, Asif Ali Zardari, is in the United States assuring a nervous Washington his government is committed to fighting militancy.

[Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistani President]:
The population was fed up of them, and was fed up of the fighting. Some the provincial government came up with this idea that, Let's go for a peace deal, and let's get the people involved. They tried. It hasn't worked.

Zardari didn't speak about the latest fighting.

He has called for more aid and requested unmanned drones -- weapons the U.S. military has used to target militants in the border regions.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• NTD
• Pakistan
• Conflict
• Taliban
• Militants
• Terrorism
• Politics
• Swat valley
• UNHCR
• Asif Ali Zardari