With skepticism growing about the progress of the month-old army offensive in the northwestern region, the army flew a handful of reporters from foreign news organizations into Swat on Friday.
An Associated Press reporter aboard the helicopter saw no cars and few people in the town of Mingora or on roads further up the valley, a former tourist haven just 100 kilometers from the capital, Islamabad.
From the air, there was little evidence of the fierce fighting and airstrikes that the military claims have already killed more than 1,000 militants as well as some 60 soldiers.
But a senior commander insisted the army was trapping militants in Mingora and Piochar, a side-valley further north that is the stronghold of Swat Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah.
"The noose is tightening around them. Their routes of escape have been cut off," Maj Gen Sajad Ghani said. "It´s just a question of time before (Taliban leaders) are eliminated."
Pakistan launched an offensive last month to halt a Taliban advance from Swat toward the capital, Islamabad, that prompted US warnings about the stability of the nuclear-armed country.
While the US has praised the military operation, it is also contributing to a gathering effort to shield the government from the political fallout from the humanitarian crisis.
Officials say 1.9 million people have fled the fighting. More than 160,000 are staying in sweltering camps just south of the battle zone. The rest have been taken in by relatives.
The United Nations said its appeal would help provide food, schooling and health care to the multitude displaced from the Swat area and by fighting in other border regions last year.
"The scale of this displacement is extraordinary in terms of size and speed and has caused incredible suffering," said Martin Mogwanja, the acting UN humanitarian coordinator in Pakistan. "We are calling for generous support from the international community."
The UN said the figure included some $88 million from the United States, which this week pledged total assistance of $110 million in emergency aid.
The government said Thursday that international donors had pledged a total of $224 million. Pakistan, which is heavily dependent on foreign aid, has pledged $100 million of its own.
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