Peshawar, Nov 3: The quake-hit people in Balochistan are begging for shelter from the Pakistani authorities ahead of the winter season.

A strong earthquake of 6.5 magnitude on the Richter Scale had struck the province on Wednesday, killing at least 215 people and destroying thousands of mud houses.

The epicentre was in Ziarat – a picturesque valley where night-time temperatures have falling below freezing.

“We’ve got food, we’ve got relief, but we don’t have tents which can save our children from the cold,” said Rehmat Kakar, a 70-year-old farmer standing by the rubble of his house in Wam Khazi village.

Peshawar - Unknown gunmen on Friday abducted the brother of Afghan Finance Minister Anwarul Haq Ahadi in Pakistan's North-Western Frontier Province, his family said.

They said Ziaul Haq Ahdi was on his way home after Friday prayers at a mosque in the Hayatabag neighbourhood of Peshawar when four assailants riding a vehicle kidnapped him on gunpoint.

"We were informed about the incident by witnesses," his elder brother Israrul Haq told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Israrul Haq has a permanent residence in Peshawar while his younger brother Ziaul Haq was visiting from Afghanistan.

Peshawar, Oct 25 : A total of 1,500 suspected Taliban and al Qaeda militants and 73 troops have died in operation of Pakistani security forces in the Tribal Areas bordering Afghanistan.

Inspector General of Frontier Constabulary Major-General Tariq Khan said on Saturday that Pakistan Army has captured a key militant stronghold near the Afghan border, a breakthrough in an offensive against the Taliban and al Qaeda.

Peshawar, Oct 24 : At least 35 Taliban were killed in the Bajaur Agency when Pakistan security forces carried out ground and air strikes there last evening, Frontier Constabulary (FC) sources said.

Jet fighters continued targeting suspected Taliban hideouts in Loyesam and Charmang, they said and added that eight associates of Taliban commander Maulvi Omer were killed in an attack on a hideout in Badan.

Ground forces pounded the Taliban positions with artillery late on Wednesday.

Peshawar - At least five security personnel and seven rebels were killed when Taliban rebels ambushed a troop convoy in Pakistan's restive Swat Valley, police said Wednesday.

The caravan of several vehicles of paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) and police carrying supplies for the troops came under attack in Sarsinai area of sub-district Kabal Tuesday afternoon.

"Four FC soldiers and a policeman were martyred (killed) in the attack, while security forces killed seven militants in the clashes that lasted for several hours," said Swat police chief Dilawar Khan Bangash.

Peshawar, Oct 19: Around 13 suspected militants were reportedly killed and dozens of houses destroyed in the ongoing bombing by jetfighters and military gunship helicopters in the Bajaur Agency.

The military authorities said on Saturday that jetfighters and gunship helicopters pounded suspected positions of the tribal militants in Mamond and Charmang Tehsils, which are considered as the strongholds of the militants.

In Loisam and the adjoining villages, sources said, seven militants were killed when jetfighters and gunship choppers turn by turn pounded their suspected positions.