Mon Sep 22 07:50:52 UTC 2025: ## Pakistan Airstrikes Kill Dozens of Civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

**Islamabad, Pakistan** – At least 30 civilians, including women and children, were killed in airstrikes conducted by the Pakistani Air Force in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province early Monday morning. According to local reports, the strikes occurred around 2 am in Matre Dara village, where Pakistani fighter jets allegedly dropped eight LS-6 bombs.

Disturbing images and videos from the scene depict bodies, including those of children, scattered amidst rubble, raising fears that the death toll may rise as rescue teams continue to search for survivors. Many more are reported injured, though their conditions remain unclear.

The incident highlights escalating concerns about the protection of civilian life in the region. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen a surge in counter-terrorism operations in recent months, with numerous reports of civilian casualties. Amnesty International issued a statement in June condemning the “alarming disregard for civilian life in Pakistan” signaled by recurrent drone strikes in the region. The organization cited a drone strike last Friday that killed a child, highlighting an escalation in attacks since March.

“Pakistani authorities have failed to take action to protect the lives and property of civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who continue to pay the price of an escalating number of drone strikes in the province,” stated Isabelle Lassee, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, in June.

According to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police data, the province has recorded 605 terror incidents between January and August of this year, resulting in the deaths of at least 138 civilians and 79 police personnel. August alone saw 129 incidents, including the deaths of six Pakistani Army and paramilitary personnel.

Sources suggest that terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) are establishing new bases within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, taking advantage of the mountainous terrain and porous border with Afghanistan, particularly after the recent Operation Sindoor targeted and destroyed terrorist hideouts in other areas of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The region also contains remnants of hideouts built during past conflicts.

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