Representative Image
At least 30 people, including several women and children, were killed on Monday when the Pakistani Air Force dropped eight bombs on the Pashtun-majority village of Matre Dara in Tirah Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
JF-17 fighter jets released LS-6 bombs during early morning air strikes, causing widespread destruction. Videos and images of the devastation circulated on social media, drawing criticism from human rights organisations globally.
Several villagers sustained critical injuries, and authorities warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continued searching through rubble.
Footage shared by local journalists and activists showed bodies, including those of children, amidst the wreckage, highlighting the scale of the tragedy.
Political and Public Reactions
The KP branch of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) condemned the attacks, stating that the air strikes destroyed five local homes and rescuers had recovered at least 20 bodies at the time of reporting.
A statement on X described the bombing as sowing ‘seeds of hatred’ and expressed deep sorrow for the victims.
Baloch human rights activist Mir Yar Baloch also denounced the strikes as a deliberate targeting of civilians, calling them ‘nothing less than a war crime’.
He urged the international community to respond and voiced solidarity with the Pashtun population, stressing that their sacrifices would not go unnoticed.
The incident has prompted outrage on social media, with human rights advocates highlighting the humanitarian impact of the attacks.
Observers called for accountability and renewed attention to the ongoing violence in regions under conflict.
The Matre Dara bombing marks one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in KP in recent months, underscoring the heightened tension and humanitarian concerns in the region.
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