United Nations, March 3 – Nearly 100 people have crossed into Afghanistan from northern Pakistan as the Pakistani government is mulling a full-scale offensive to root out militants in its restive northern tribal region, Xinhua news agency reported.
United Nations (UN) spokesman Martin Nesirky said based on reports of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), close to 20,000 people have been displaced since Feb 20 due to military operations in the North Waziristan region in Pakistan.
The OCHA is in contact with the Pakistani local authorities to provide emergency aid including food supplies and medical assistance to the displaced people.
Pakistani forces on Tuesday launched a coordinated air and ground assault on militants’ hideouts in North Waziristan and neighbouring tribal areas that left more than 40 rebels dead.
The military operation came after peace talks faltered between the Pakistani government and the Taliban, who recently launched two attacks on Pakistani security forces.
– Bernama
