At least 30 civilians, mostly women and children, were killed after Pakistan Air Force jets dropped precision-guided bombs on a village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah Valley. Human rights groups demand accountability.
30 Civilians Killed in Pakistan Air Force Bombing
At least 30 civilians, including women and children, lost their lives in the early hours of Monday when the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) launched heavy airstrikes on a remote village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah Valley, near the Afghan border.
According to Indian intelligence sources, JF-17 fighter jets dropped at least eight Chinese-origin LS-6 precision-guided bombs on Matre Dara village around 2 a.m., flattening several homes and leaving families buried under rubble.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror, with bodies lying across debris-strewn streets and survivors desperately digging through collapsed houses. “Entire families have been wiped out. Most victims were women and children who had no chance to escape,” one source told reporters.
Tirah Valley: A Longstanding Conflict Zone
The Tirah Valley has for years remained a stronghold of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other armed groups. The Pakistan military has repeatedly claimed that the region hosts “dozens of TTP hideouts,” but its operations often come at a devastating cost to civilians.
A local police officer, speaking anonymously, confirmed that at least four houses suspected of sheltering TTP militants were targeted. However, the civilian death toll has raised sharp criticism.
Sohail Afridi, a member of the Khyber district’s Provincial Assembly, accused Pakistan’s security forces of committing a “massacre.” Sharing disturbing videos of dead children on social media, Afridi condemned the government as “oppressors,” adding that “killing innocent people has become routine for them.”
Human Rights Bodies Demand Accountability
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed outrage over the tragedy. In a statement, the watchdog said:
“HRCP is deeply shocked to learn that civilians, including children, have been killed, allegedly due to aerial bombing in Tirah, Khyber district. We demand an immediate, impartial inquiry and that those responsible be held accountable. The state is constitutionally bound to protect civilians’ right to life, which it has repeatedly failed to secure.”
Tribal elders from the Afridi Pashtun community reportedly held an emergency meeting following the strikes. Sources suggest they are planning protests and may even attempt to besiege the Pakistan Air Force base in Peshawar in retaliation.
Civilian Casualties Mount in Pakistan’s Border Belt
This latest tragedy follows a pattern of similar strikes in the region. Just last week, four children were killed and five injured when explosives were dropped by a drone. The Pakistan Army denied responsibility, blaming the TTP instead.
In May, 22 civilians—including seven children—were injured in another drone attack.
While Islamabad remained silent on Monday’s incident, human rights organizations and local representatives are warning that such repeated tragedies risk fueling further resentment among Pashtun tribes already caught between militant groups and state forces.
At least 30 civilians were killed when Pakistan Air Force jets dropped precision-guided bombs on Tirah Valley’s Matre Dara village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Survivors described heartbreaking scenes of destruction, while human rights groups demanded accountability. With Islamabad silent, outrage is growing among local communities who accuse the state of routinely targeting innocent civilians in its war against TTP militants.