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Thousands flee Pakistan fighting Thousands flee Pakistan fighting
(about 1 hour later)
A Pakistani offensive against militants in the Swat Valley has displaced some 200,000 people recently, the UN says.A Pakistani offensive against militants in the Swat Valley has displaced some 200,000 people recently, the UN says.
A spokesman for the UN's refugee agency UNHCR said another 300,000 were already on the move or about to flee. A spokesman for the UN's refugee agency UNHCR said another 300,000 were already on the move or about to flee in extremely perilous circumstances.
Added to the more than 550,000 who had already fled, this threatened to create one of the world's biggest displacement crises, the UN says. As the fighting escalates, the UN said this threatened to become one of the world's biggest displacement crises.
Pakistani spokesman Gen Athar Abbas said the government had taken measures to provide for the civilians fleeing. Pakistan military spokesman Gen Athar Abbas says measures have been taken to provide for the fleeing civilians.
But reports suggest some civilians are being prevented from leaving militant-held areas.But reports suggest some civilians are being prevented from leaving militant-held areas.
See a map of the region See a map of the region
Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani vowed on Thursday to "eliminate militants and terrorists" from Swat, a bastion of Taleban rule.Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani vowed on Thursday to "eliminate militants and terrorists" from Swat, a bastion of Taleban rule.
A full-scale offensive had begun on Friday, with helicopter gunships blasting militant strongholds from the air and troops conducting operations on the ground. Yusuf Raza Gilani in Thursday's TV address
A full-scale offensive began on Friday, with helicopter gunships blasting militant strongholds from the air and troops conducting operations on the ground.
Despite now abandoned attempts to secure a peace deal in and around Swat, the area - close to the border with Afghanistan - has long been riven with tensions.Despite now abandoned attempts to secure a peace deal in and around Swat, the area - close to the border with Afghanistan - has long been riven with tensions.
The UN estimates that before the current crisis, some 550,000 people had been displaced since last August, said UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond, according to Associated Press news agency. The UN estimates that before the current crisis, some 550,000 people had been displaced since last August, said UNHCR spokesman Ron Redmond.
Militants 'entrenched'Militants 'entrenched'
Those displaced over recent days have been forced to flee with very little preparation, aid workers say.Those displaced over recent days have been forced to flee with very little preparation, aid workers say.
They say families were often separated as they fled, and doctors in displaced camps report many are suffering psychological trauma.They say families were often separated as they fled, and doctors in displaced camps report many are suffering psychological trauma.
Many residents are fleeing Mingora, the main town in Swat Valley, which was home to several hundred thousand people before the latest fighting began.
Locals say that most of the current fighting is centred in the Kabal and Charbagh areas of Swat, as well as Mingora itself.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
Speaking to the BBC, Gen Abbas confirmed that the military's objective in this now fully fledged offensive was to eliminate militants from the Swat Valley and some surrounding districts. Speaking to the BBC, Gen Abbas confirmed that the military's objective in this now fully-fledged offensive was to eliminate some 4-5,000 militants from the Swat Valley and neighbouring districts of Dir and Buner.
"It will be a drawn-out affair," he warned, "because the militants in Swat have had time to entrench themselves in the area, mix with the people, and through coercion, fear and using terror as a weapon, eliminate all those who supported the government.""It will be a drawn-out affair," he warned, "because the militants in Swat have had time to entrench themselves in the area, mix with the people, and through coercion, fear and using terror as a weapon, eliminate all those who supported the government."
He said militants were "making best use of the terrain, which is ideal country for any guerrilla warfare".He said militants were "making best use of the terrain, which is ideal country for any guerrilla warfare".
No reliable figures on casualties in the conflict are available, though one report quotes the Pakistani military as saying that more than 150 militants and "several" soldiers have died since the offensive began.
Hospitals in the conflict zone also report civilian deaths.
The BBC's Mark Dummett in Islamabad says that the government's superiority in terms of military hardware would ensure it easy victory in a pitched battle.The BBC's Mark Dummett in Islamabad says that the government's superiority in terms of military hardware would ensure it easy victory in a pitched battle.
But this is not a pitched battle, he says: the terrain allows the Taleban to disperse and regroup. The militants are well-motivated, he adds. But this is not a pitched battle, he says: the Taleban are able to fight, disperse and regroup. The militants are well-motivated, he adds.
At present, our correspondent says, the government is confident it has public support for its military campaign - but this could easily be eroded if civilian casualties mount.At present, our correspondent says, the government is confident it has public support for its military campaign - but this could easily be eroded if civilian casualties mount.
Civilians 'trapped'
The Pakistani military says it is trying to help displaced civilians by establishing camps where they can seek shelter.
But reports suggest many thousands of civilians under threat from the fighting are unwilling or unable to move. They may be scared to leave their homes, aid workers say.
The people are now trapped and in an increasingly difficult position. The electricity and water have been shut down... Food stocks are dwindling Journalist in Swat
In other instances, militants may prevent civilians fleeing, or they may be hindered by roads which have been blocked or laid with landmines as part of the militants' military strategy.
The Pakistani military has also imposed an indefinite curfew over swathes of the region, preventing other civilians from fleeing.
"The curfew has been reinforced in Mingora and the surrounding areas", a local journalist told the BBC.
"The people are now trapped and in an increasingly difficult position. The electricity and water have been shut down.
"All the markets have been closed since [Thursday]," the journalist said. "Food stocks are dwindling. If supplies are not made available, people will face starvation in next few days."
Islamabad's fresh offensive against the militants is a change of course for the government, which in February signed a peace agreement with Swat Taleban agreeing to allow Sharia law to be locally imposed.
But in the face of territorial advances by emboldened Taleban forces, the strategy came under increasing fire from Washington, a key ally.
The US insists the militants pose a direct threat to its security, and has demanded they be confronted.
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