Amidst fears of a military offensive against militants, thousands of people have fled Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region, which has witnessed heavy bombing by the air force in retaliation for a string of terror attacks targeting security personnel.
Most of the people have headed to the adjacent district of Bannu in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, said local residents and officials of North Waziristan's political administration.
The exodus was triggered in part by panic among residents following a series of targeted operations by the army against militant hideouts in Mir Ali.
People from Mir Ali were heading to Mashko Khel, Baka Khel and Bannu district via the Miramshah-Bannu Road, The Express Tribune reported on its website.
Officials of the Disaster Management Authority for the tribal areas said they had not been directed to deal with the internally displaced people but a special team was sent to Bannu to assess the number of people arriving from North Waziristan Agency.
Rumours of an impending military operation in the tribal belt also did the rounds in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
The military targeted militant bases in North Waziristan after two terror attacks, including a suicide bombing near the army headquarters in Rawalpindi, killed over 30 troops.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said force would be used to establish the government's writ. He told reporters that the security of lives and property will be ensured at all costs.
The government is determined to tackle internal challenges and all options will be used to overcome terrorist activities, he said.
