Pakistan's Military Moves Against Strategic Northwest Town

Reports say Pakistan's military has shelled Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan, with tanks and artillery in the latest round of its offensive against Taliban strongholds in the tribal region in the northwest.

Pakistan's "Dawn" newspaper reports ground troops were moving into the town's market area to clear suspected militant hideouts after heavy shelling earlier on June 26, but that report could not be independently verified.

Pakistan's military launched its offensive against Taliban strongholds in North Waziristan in mid-June after an attack on the airport in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi killed dozens of people.

The military says more than 360 militants have been killed in nearly two weeks of air raids.

At least 430,000 people are estimated to have fled North Waziristan into neighboring areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan since the offensive began.