Pakistan: At least 30 killed in reported airstrikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Guwahati: At least 30 people, including women and children, were reportedly killed in airstrikes carried out early Monday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.

According to reports, the incident took place around 2 am in Matre Dara village of the Tirah Valley, where fighter jets reportedly dropped eight LS-6 bombs. All those killed were said to be civilians, while several others sustained injuries, though their condition remains unclear.

Footage shared by local journalists and social media users showed bodies, including children, amid rubble, while rescue teams conducted searches for additional victims.

The Tirah Valley and other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been the site of repeated counter-terrorism operations, with civilian casualties frequently reported. In June 2025, Amnesty International highlighted an “alarming disregard for civilian life” in the province following recurrent drone strikes.

Isabelle Lassee, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, stated at the time: “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.”

Official media figures indicate that between January and August this year, the province recorded 605 terror-related incidents, resulting in 138 civilian deaths and 79 police personnel killed.

Militants linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen are reported to be attempting to establish new bases in the region following Operation Sindoor, which destroyed several major hideouts across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Independent verification of Monday’s strikes or the exact casualty figures is still pending.