Islamabad, Jul 4 (IANS): Pakistan has launched a military offensive against militants in a valley located in its northwest.
The operation was initiated Sunday in Kurram Agency, forcing families to flee the area, Dawn reported Monday.
About a fortnight back, the government had notified 80 sq km of the area in central Kurram as a conflict zone.
Kurram is located close to Tora Bora, considered a stronghold of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
The report said that militants from Waziristan and other parts of Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have set up base in central Kurram.
Informed sources said troops had had been air-dropped and army and paramilitary forces were conducting the joint operation.
Pakistan has been hit by a string of terror strikes, specially after the gunning down of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden May 2 in Abbottabad city.