Local tribal elders in northwestern Pakistan reported Tuesday that four children were killed and five others injured in a suspected drone strike in the restive region, sparking widespread outrage and mass protests. The incident occurred Monday in the town of Mir Ali, a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban.
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Thousands of residents took to the streets, placing the children's bodies on a main road in protest and demanding justice. The attack's perpetrator remains unidentified, and Pakistan's military has not yet issued an official comment.
“We are not blaming anyone, but we demand justice. The government must tell us who killed our children,” said Mufti Beitullah, a local tribal elder.
A statement released Tuesday by Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, revealed that Indian attacks last week killed 11 soldiers and 40 civilians. However, it did not clarify whether the drone strike in Mir Ali was connected to these cross-border tensions.
Protesters warned that the demonstration—currently staged at a key regional checkpoint—could escalate if authorities fail to respond. “We will not bury the children until we know who is responsible,” said one demonstrator, as crowds chanted, “We want justice.”
The drone strike comes amid ongoing military operations against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group with a significant presence in Mir Ali. TTP, a separate entity from the Afghan Taliban, has stepped up attacks in the region in recent months, frequently targeting security forces.
Nayak Mohammad Dawar, a provincial minister, condemned the strike in a statement and confirmed that an official investigation is underway.
Mir Ali and surrounding areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border, have long been known as hotspots for militant activity. The surge in violence has raised fears of renewed instability in the volatile border region.
