By IRNA,
Islamabad : At least 462 militants and 22 security personnel have been killed during fighting in a Pakistani tribal region in 10 days, the provincial governor said.
Security forces launched major operation against the militants in Bajaur tribal region last week to flush them out from the area.
Fighting has forced around two hundred thousands people to flee to other areas, opposition parties and rights groups say.
A former lawmaker from Bajaur Haroon Rashid said on Friday that air bombing and use of artillery by the security forces have forced the people to take shelter in other areas.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told the National Assembly that the operation was launched against the foreign militants in Bajaur and that it will continue unless they are flushed out.
Governor North West Frontier Owais Ahmed Ghani told a news conference that elders of the area have already been informed two days ago to vacate their houses in trouble spots that helped avoid collateral damages.
However, he said that some houses were damaged in the operation against the militants.
He said that Government was left with no option but to launch action against miscreants when around 3000 armed militants have tried to take control of Khar, headquarters of Bajaur Agency.
Officials said that a camp has been set up in Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, for the displaced people