Pak kills 30 militants, civilian exodus grows

Pakistani helicopters pounded militant targets in the country’s northwest on Saturday, killing up to 30 rebels, as the number of civilians fleeing an long-awaited offensive there surpassed 300,000.

Pakistani helicopters pounded militant targets in the country’s northwest on Saturday, killing up to 30 rebels, as the number of civilians fleeing an long-awaited offensive there surpassed 300,000.

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The exodus from the North Waziristan tribal area, on the Afghan border, came this week after the military launched the assault on militant hideouts in the wake of a Taliban attack on the airport in Karachi that left dozens dead and destroyed a nascent peace process.

Civilians have fled to the cities of Bannu, Peshawar and Kohat and across the border into Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the military said all ranks of the army would donate a day’s pay and provide 30 days’ rations for the people fleeing the offensive.