Pakistan steps up action against Taliban

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 05-08-2009 09:21

Pakistani aircraft have pounded Taliban positions in the country's northwestern Swat Valley, as thousands of people took advantage of a break in a curfew to flee from the region.

Tens of thousands of Pakistanis are fleeing fighting in  Swat valley as clashes between ruling Taliban and  government security forces escalate. The provincial  government says it is scrambling to prepare shelter from 500,000 people they expect to flee the area.  Duration: 00:51(AFPTV)

Troops are launching artillery and airstrikes on militant targets in the area. The military claims to have killed around 80 militants in the region on Wednesday. There has been no official word on civilian casualties. About 40-thousand people have been displaced from Swat and nearby areas since fighting flared up last month. Security forces launched an offensive on April 26th to expel militants from two of Swat's neighboring districts -- Dir and Buner. And security has deteriorated sharply in Swat since then.

Editor:Liu Anqi