Pakistan's 2 million displaced start returning home

By Kamran Haider

JALOZAI CAMP, Pakistan (Reuters) - The Pakistani government began sending home on Monday about 2 million people displaced two months ago by the army's assault on Taliban militants in the Swat valley.

The army says it has pushed the Taliban out of their former bastion northwest of Islamabad, and the government is keen to move the displaced back to their homes.

The Swat exodus was one of the biggest human migrations of recent times, stretching Pakistan's resources to the breaking point and prompting a global appeal for humanitarian help.

The army launched the offensive in late April after militants took over a district just 100 km (60 miles) from Islamabad, raising fears for U.S. ally Pakistan's stability and the safety of its nuclear weapons.

The army says more than 1,700 militants were killed in the fighting -- independent casualty estimates are unavailable -- but none of their leaders were among the casualties, leading to fears the fighters could re-emerge.

In the dusty tent camp of Jalozai, already baking hot in the early morning sun, buses and trucks were lined up on Monday to take a first batch of people back to their homes.

"Thank God we're going back," said farmer Qaiser Khan.