Pakistanis dodge Taliban roadblocks

THOUSANDS of terrified Pakistanis dodged Taliban roadblocks to flee fighting yesterday between the army and insurgents in a northwestern valley, streaming into refugee camps and crowding hospitals with their fatigued and hungry children.

According to the UN, tens of thousands have fled their homes in recent days from the Swat Valley where a militant-government peace pact collapsed this week. The exodus adds to more than 500,000 already displaced by fighting in Pakistan’s volatile border region with Afghanistan.

The violence flared just as Pakistan’s embattled president was appealing in Washington for more help to reverse the extension of Taliban-held territory to within 90 kilometres of the capital, Islamabad. The US has welcomed Pakistan’s fresh military action.