Islamabad: At least 30 people, many of them women and children, were killed when the Pakistan Air Force carried out airstrikes in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to reports. The strikes, aimed at suspected hideouts of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), hit a village in the valley, leading to heavy civilian casualties.
Local sources said the death toll could rise further as rescue efforts were still underway in the mountainous terrain. Images and videos circulating on social media showed injured children being treated on makeshift beds and villagers scrambling through rubble to locate survivors.
The Tirah Valley, which lies between the Khyber Pass and Khanki Valley and shares a border with Afghanistan, has long been considered a stronghold for militant groups. Pakistan’s security forces have stepped up operations in the region in recent months, targeting TTP fighters believed to be responsible for repeated cross-border attacks and assaults on security personnel.
While the military has not issued a detailed statement on the civilian toll, the strikes have triggered outrage among local residents. Community leaders described the bombing as “indiscriminate” and warned of growing resentment in an area already scarred by years of conflict.
The incident underscores the human cost of Pakistan’s continuing battle with militancy, with calls mounting for greater accountability and safeguards to protect civilians caught in conflict zones.