Pakistani army helicopters pounded mountains near the Afghan border yesterday after nearly 50 people were killed in clashes with pro-Taliban militants, a resident of the area said.
The fighting -- some of the worst in the remote North Waziristan region in years -- started on Saturday and ended early yesterday in the area, where well-armed, fiercely independent tribes have long resisted government control.
"Fighting continued throughout the night with both sides using heavy weapons," a resident of Miranshah said yesterday.
The overnight exchanges of fire eased off in the morning but helicopter gunships later fired rockets into mountains to the east of Miranshah, sending plumes of smoke and dust into the sky.
After the tribesmen and soldiers retreated to their strongholds and bases, the streets and bazaars were empty in the town of Miranshah -- the main hotspot of the unrest. Security forces had fortified themselves inside a heavily guarded base, and troops fired into the air if anyone came within 300m of the base.
Hundreds of villagers -- men, women and children -- were seen fleeing Miranshah on foot yesterday, carrying suitcases and bundles of clothes. Vehicles weren't allowed in or out of the town, so they had to walk 15km to a security checkpoint, where they could find transport.
The fighting took place about 300km southwest of Islamabad, where US President George W. Bush made a 24-hour visit and declared his solidarity with Pakistan in the war on terror. He left the country late on Saturday in much the same way he arrived -- after dark, and with the running lights off and window shades pulled down to conceal Air Force One's distinctive markings.
There were conflicting reports about casualties.
Major General Shaukat Sultan, an army spokesman, said on Saturday that 25 militants were killed in Miranshah and 21 in the nearby town of Mir Ali. He said three soldiers were killed and about 10 were injured.
Intercepts of radio communications between militants on Saturday in Miranshah and nearby Mir Ali suggested 80 or more fighters had died, security and intelligence officials said.
Ethnic Pashtuns inhabit Waziristan as well as Afghan areas on the other side of the border and many people support the Taliban, most of whose leaders and rank-and-file are Pashtun.
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