Calls for Probe Following Killing of Civilians Reported in Northwest Pakistan

Calls for Probe Following Killing of Civilians Reported in Northwest Pakistan
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A series of explosions in a remote area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan has resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people, including children, triggering calls for an immediate investigation.

According to Al Jazeera, while a local police official stated that the blasts were caused by bomb-making materials stored at a Pakistan Taliban (TTP) compound, many local opposition figures and authorities have accused the Pakistani military of conducting air raids. They allege that the military’s “counterterror operation” targeted fighters in mountainous areas bordering Afghanistan.

An official statement has yet to be released by the Pakistani government or its armed forces. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has expressed shock over the deaths of civilians and children and has demanded an immediate and impartial inquiry. Lawmakers from the province, which is governed by the party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, also blamed the military and warned that the attacks on “unarmed civilians” could have negative consequences for the country. The speaker of the provincial assembly, Babar Saleem Swati, wrote on X that the civilian deaths were due to “bombardment by jet aircraft” and called for a transparent investigation.