At least 11 people were killed in northern Pakistan on Saturday when the military launched a series of drone strikes targeting Taliban hideouts. The operation, carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border, has drawn criticism after reports emerged that civilians were among the casualties.
Military Strikes and Civilian Casualties
The strikes took place late Friday in the mountainous Katlang area of Mardan district, based on what authorities described as “confirmed intelligence” regarding the presence of militants. A senior police officer, speaking anonymously, confirmed the attacks and later reported that two women and three children were among the dead.
“In protest, local residents placed the bodies of the victims on the road, claiming they were innocent civilians,” the officer said.
Provincial government spokesman Muhammad Ali Saif acknowledged the civilian casualties, calling them “deeply regrettable.” He explained that terrorist elements often use civilian areas as shelters, complicating counterterrorism operations.
“Subsequent information revealed that some unarmed civilians were present in the vicinity of the operation site,” Saif said in a statement. “The loss of innocent lives is deeply regrettable.”
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether Taliban fighters were present at the time of the strikes.
Escalation of Violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The strikes come amid a surge in militant attacks across the region. In mid-March, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced a “spring campaign” against security forces, vowing to carry out ambushes, suicide bombings, and targeted strikes.
Since then, the group has claimed responsibility for nearly 100 attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone.
In a separate incident on Saturday, seven Pakistani soldiers were killed during a counterterrorism operation when Taliban fighters hiding in a house opened fire. The military responded with helicopter gunships, killing eight militants. Six additional soldiers were wounded in the hours-long battle.
Growing Threat Across Pakistan
Violence has escalated significantly in Pakistan’s northern and western regions, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where the military frequently conducts operations against insurgent groups. However, these efforts have not curbed the rising number of attacks.
Since the beginning of 2024, more than 190 people—mostly security personnel—have been killed in attacks across both provinces. The latest attack in Balochistan occurred when a bomb planted on a motorbike by separatist militants killed a soldier and a civilian.
Tensions with Afghanistan
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban government in Afghanistan of failing to curb militant activity, alleging that fighters use Afghan territory as a base to launch attacks. In response, Kabul has denied the allegations, instead blaming Pakistan for harboring terrorist cells, particularly the Islamic State’s regional branch, IS-K.
In early March, Pakistan’s military warned that it “reserves the right to take necessary measures” to counter cross-border threats.
Last year was the deadliest in nearly a decade for Pakistan, with over 1,600 people killed in attacks, nearly half of them security personnel, according to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies. With violence continuing to rise, the government faces mounting pressure to intensify its counterterrorism efforts while minimizing civilian casualties.
