Pakistanis Accuse Army Of Killing Civilians During Offensive

Residents of Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region have accused the military of killing dozens of civilians during an offensive against militants.

Locals said more than 50 people have been killed since the army launched an operation in the area last week.

The Pakistani military has imposed a curfew across the lawless region and residents said many people had fled from their homes after days of shelling and raids.

North Waziristan, along the border with Afghanistan, is a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban and other Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

The army launched its offensive on December 18 after militants bombed a military checkpoint in the Mir Ali region of North Waziristan.

Pakistani officials say dozens of militants have been killed in the clashes.

The offensive comes after Islamabad's failed attempts to launch peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban.

Based on reporting by Reuters and Dawn.com