Pakistan: Drone Strikes Result in 11 TTP Deaths and 9 Civilian Casualties; KP Government Initiates Inquiry
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Synopsis
In a significant military operation in Mardan, KP, drone strikes targeted TTP militants, resulting in 11 militant deaths alongside 9 civilian casualties. The KP government has launched an investigation into the incident following local protests and claims of civilian loss.
Key Takeaways
- 11 TTP militants confirmed dead.
- 9 civilians, including women and children, also killed.
- KP government orders an investigation and offers compensation.
- Local protests highlight civilian casualties.
- TTP declares a ceasefire for Eid-ul-Fitr.
Mardan, March 30 (NationPress) In a groundbreaking operation, the Pakistan military conducted drone strikes aimed at suspected militant locations in the Babozai village of Katlang tehsil within the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) province's Mardan district, leading to the deaths of at least 11 members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and, reportedly, nine civilians.
Following the operation on Saturday, security sources indicated that the airstrike was executed based on reliable intelligence regarding TTP hideouts and their assembly in the Katlang mountains, where they allegedly planned to execute attacks during the forthcoming Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations and prayers.
Security officials also reported that the airstrikes neutralized 11 TTP militants, while a total of 25 militants were eliminated in the military operation.
However, local residents and government officials confirmed that civilians, including women and children, were also casualties of the airstrikes, prompting protests against the loss of civilian lives.
Residents stated that the drone strikes resulted in the deaths of at least nine members of a shepherd family, asserting they were civilians.
The KP provincial government acknowledged the incident, noting that there were civilian casualties as well.
"An anti-terror operation was executed in the Karlang mountainous region of Mardan district based on credible intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists. Reports indicated that this site was used for the concealment and movement of terrorist elements," stated Barrister Saif, spokesperson for the KP provincial government.
"It is unfortunate that unarmed individuals, including women and children, lost their lives in this operation," he added.
In response to reports of civilian casualties and local protests, where mourners placed the deceased's bodies on the Swat Expressway and obstructed two traffic lanes, the KP government ordered a high-level investigation into the incident and announced a compensation of Rs 5 million for each victim.
Local sources disclosed that the nine victims belonged to the Shamozai tehsil of Swat district and typically migrated from Swat with their sheep and goats during winter, settling in the foothills of Babozai and Shamozai villages in Mardan.
The deaths of civilians have ignited anger and outrage among locals, raising significant concerns regarding the credibility of the intelligence that led to the targeted drone strikes.
While security forces deny claims of civilian casualties, asserting that all individuals killed in the airstrikes were TTP militants, they emphasized that no civilians could have resided in the mountainous regions of Katlang tehsil. Locals have also released the names of the deceased, asserting that they were indeed civilians and not TTP militants.
Amjad Ali Khan, Housing Minister of the KP government, stated that he personally knew each victim, asserting that they were all civilians.
"All nine individuals, including two women and two children, who perished in the drone attack in Katlang were completely innocent. I personally knew each of them as they hailed from my native town in Shamozai in Swat," he remarked.
"I visited the site of the incident and assured the victims' families that a thorough investigation would take place," he added.
The KP government also issued a statement regarding the incident, confirming that an investigation has commenced.
"This is a deeply tragic and regrettable situation. Every effort is made to minimize collateral damage during such operations. Nonetheless, the challenging terrain, the militants' tactics of blending in with civilian populations, and the chaos of war can sometimes result in unintended consequences," the statement from the KP government read.
"The government extends its heartfelt condolences to the affected families and stands in solidarity with them during this time of grief. Immediate actions are underway to investigate the circumstances surrounding the civilian presence in the area, provide medical assistance to the injured, and facilitate relief and compensation for the families of the victims," the statement concluded.
The recent drone strikes appear to be a new strategy employed by the Pakistani military to target militant hideouts. However, the civilian casualties and the outrage expressed by locals pose significant challenges for security forces, potentially exacerbating anti-military sentiments among the populace.
Meanwhile, the TTP has declared a three-day ceasefire for Eid-ul-Fitr, describing it as a gesture to allow the people of Pakistan to celebrate peacefully. Nevertheless, the TTP retains the right to respond to any military aggression in self-defense if provoked.
