At least 12 more militants were killed today when Pakistan's military targeted their hideouts in the ongoing operation in the North Waziristan tribal region, the army said.
Three terrorist hideouts in Qutab Khel area, on the outskirts of Miranshah, were destroyed early this morning by the army's Cobra helicopter gunships.
"It was an integrated action by cobra gunships, artillery and snipers. Twelve terrorists including foreigners were killed in the strikes. Huge cache of arms and ammunition was also destroyed," military spokesman Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said.
He said while the Operation Zarb-e-Azb progresses as per plan, terrorists inside the cordoned area are making desperate attempts to flee.
"Six attempts were foiled last night and three locals who did not have any identity proof were apprehended while trying to flee from the cordon," he said.
Another 24 suspects who were trying to flee in the garb of displaced people were apprehended at various strangulation check posts in Mirali and Miranshah.
Meanwhile, people were pouring out of the conflict zone, braving hot weather.
"Till now 200,000 persons have been evacuated from the area," Bajwa said.
He said 400 Afghan families left North Waziristan for Afghanistan through Ghulam Khan border village yesterday.
They were provided all required administrative assistance.
According to various reports, people were facing problems in Bannu due to hot weather as government struggled to cope with the influx of the displaced people.
Federal minister Abdul Qadir Baloch said that government had release Rs 50 crore to help the people.
"Every family is being assisted with Rs 1,200 at the initial stage," he said.
Separately, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited Corps headquarters in Peshawar and was briefed about the operation and the assistance programmes for the displaced.
An official said that Sharif was informed that so far 232 militants have been killed while eight soldiers had also died in the military action.
