Pakistan uses jet fighters and helicopter gunships to bomb baloch tribesmen

Army on offensive in Balochistan

Pakistani security forces backed by helicopter gunships have launched an operation against tribal rebels in the troubled province of Balochistan.

Army spokesman Gen Shaukat Sultan told journalists the operation was targeted exclusively at "miscreant hideouts".

There are unconfirmed reports of casualties from Kohlu, a town 220km (135 miles) south-east of Quetta.

The operation follows rocket attacks last week on military camps and army officers in the area.

Gas-rich Balochistan has seen months of violence as tribal groups push for greater political and economic rights.

'Hundreds detained'

Balach Marri, a provincial MP for the Kohlu area, said he had reports that a number of people had been killed in the raids - although he could not confirm the exact number.

"The army has arrested hundreds of innocent people in the operation, which is still going on, and in which jet fighters and helicopter gunships are participating," he told the Associated Press news agency.

Local residents say security forces carried out aerial attacks on targets in the Jindran, Tilli and Pir Mahmood areas of Kohlu district.

Gen Shaukat Sultan denied there had been raids on villages, and said he had no details of any casualties.

"It is only their [militant's] camps that are being targeted," he said.

HRCP unable to access Kohlu

By Azizullah Khan

QUETTA: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) tried to visit Kohlu but was only able to reach the border of Kahan, where aerial attacks have been reported in the past ten days, said HRCP Chairperson Asma Jahangir on Wednesday