Thousands near restive Afghan border flee after Pakistani airstrikes against Taliban militants

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Officials and village elders say thousands have fled Pakistan's border region with Afghanistan after airstrikes this week pounded militant hideouts, killing dozens of people.

Pakistan's air force launched the airstrikes in the North Waziristan region after the Taliban claimed responsibility for deadly attacks against security forces there.

Latifur Rehman, a provincial disaster management spokesman, said Saturday that the strikes displaced 6,000 families, but half of them had gone back to their homes.

A tribal prominent elder, Gul Saleh Khan, said people from North Waziristan were still fleeing to nearby towns, villages and cities.

Pakistan has carried out several offensives against the Taliban in other tribal regions, but North Waziristan has largely been spared.