Russian officials have pledged to donate $1 million to help refugees displaced by the fighting between the Taliban and security forces. The Foreign Ministry's information office said the money is part of Russia's voluntary donation to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees, the agency that assists displaced persons, the Interfax news agency reported.
More than 2 million people are believed to have been driving from their homes by fighting in the Swat valley and other areas in Pakistan. The government recently went on the offensive against Taliban militants.