• Source:JND
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Pakistan airstrikes Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours of Sunday when Pakistani fighter jets reportedly carried out air strikes on Matre Dara village in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing at least 30 civilians, including women and children. The strikes, said to have taken place around 2 am, flattened homes and left dozens trapped under debris.

According to intelligence sources cited by News18, the operation was executed with China-supplied JF-17 Thunder jets, which dropped at least eight LS-6 precision glide bombs. The sources insisted there was no confirmed militant presence in the village, raising questions over the military’s stated objective of targeting Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts.

Residents and survivors described the assault as a “massacre,” alleging the bombs tore through densely populated neighbourhoods while families were asleep. Villagers said the attack not only killed dozens but also destroyed livestock and flattened entire settlements. By dawn, Matre Dara was “littered with bodies,” an eyewitness told News18.

Tribal Protests And Sit-ins

Public anger has intensified, with tribals accusing the government of committing atrocities under the guise of counter-terrorism. They argue such operations echo the military’s past actions in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), often criticised as collective punishment against Pashtun populations.

In response, the Akakhel tribe of Tirah convened a jirga (tribal council) and announced that while women victims would be buried traditionally, the bodies of men and children would be placed outside the Corps Commander’s House as a form of protest.

A sit-in has already begun at Khyber Chowk, where demonstrators accused Islamabad of “slaughtering innocents.” Tribal leaders warned that larger protests in Peshawar are being planned, with the Afridi tribe expected to announce its decision soon.

Pakistan Army Denial

The Pakistan Army denied any role in the strikes. In a statement issued late Sunday, the military claimed that the devastation was caused by a “terrorist munitions accident.” According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a stockpile of explosives hidden by militants had detonated inside a house, killing both militants and civilians nearby. The army maintained that “12–14 Khawarij terrorists” were killed along with “8–10 civilians used as human shields.” It blamed the militants for positioning compounds adjacent to family homes and mosques, framing the incident as a consequence of insurgent tactics rather than state firepower.

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Contradicting the official version, intelligence officials told News18 that the use of precision glide bombs “proves intent rather than collateral damage.” They added that the deployment of Chinese-supplied LS-6 bombs raised international accountability concerns for Beijing, as its weaponry was directly used in civilian bombings.

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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen a surge in military operations against the TTP in recent weeks. Earlier this month, security forces reported killing 31 militants in two engagements in Bannu and Laki Marwat. On Sunday, the army claimed seven TTP fighters, including Afghan nationals, were killed in Dera Ismail Khan.