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While locals said it was an aerial assault, the Pakistan Army has categorically denied responsibility, instead blaming the carnage on a terrorist munitions accident.
People protest against Tirah Valley massacre in Pakistan.
At least 30 civilians, including women and children, were killed in the early hours of Sunday after Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets reportedly carried out air strikes on Matre Dara village in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sources say Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were the target. Eyewitnesses and local residents described the assault as a massacre, flattening entire homes and leaving dozens trapped under rubble.
According to top intelligence sources, the operation was executed around 2 am using China-supplied JF-17 Thunder jets that dropped at least eight LS-6 precision glide bombs. The strikes created multiple blast zones across the civilian settlement, with no verified militant presence or casualties.
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Local sources and survivors reported that the bombs tore through densely populated neighbourhoods where families were asleep, ensuring maximum vulnerability. Eyewitnesses described Matre Dara as “littered with bodies” by dawn, with livestock destroyed and homes reduced to debris.
Intelligence assessments suggest the deployment of LS-6 precision glide bombs “proves intent, not collateral damage.” Analysts argue that such actions amount to a deliberate violation of international humanitarian law, raising questions about Pakistan’s military conduct in its tribal belt.
“Labeling a civilian massacre as an anti-terror operation exposes Islamabad’s habitual use of counter-terror cover for internal repression,” said an intelligence source. The same sources pointed to historical parallels with army atrocities in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), framing the strike as part of a systematic campaign against Pashtun populations.
Local Anger, Tribal Protests
The Akakhel tribe of Tirah convened a jirga (tribal council) following the strikes, deciding that the women victims would be buried, while the bodies of men and children would be placed outside the Corps Commander’s House as a form of protest.
A sit-in has already begun at Khyber Chowk, with participants accusing Islamabad of “slaughtering innocents in the name of counter-terrorism.” Calls are growing for larger demonstrations in Peshawar, though the Afridi tribe is expected to announce a collective decision shortly.
Tribal elders and Pashtun activists have taken to social media, accusing the state of war crimes and “ethnic cleansing tactics.” Intelligence sources warn that such indiscriminate bombings risk inflaming Pashtun resentment, fueling anti-state militancy, and further weakening Pakistan’s internal cohesion.
Pakistan Army in Denial
While locals and intelligence networks said it was an aerial assault, the Pakistan Army has categorically denied responsibility, instead blaming the carnage on a terrorist munitions accident. In an official statement, military spokespersons claimed that “a large cache of explosives hidden by Khawarij terrorists” detonated inside a house in Metra Dara, collapsing several surrounding homes and causing civilian casualties.
Army reports alleged that “12–14 Khawarij” were killed in the blast, alongside “8–10 civilians who were used as human shields.” The statement added that militant compounds had been positioned adjacent to family homes and mosques, framing the deaths as the result of terrorist tactics rather than state firepower.
However, intelligence sources dismissed this version, emphasising on the deployment of JF-17 jets and Chinese-supplied glide bombs. They further argued that Beijing’s direct role, through the supply of weapons systems used in civilian bombings, raises accountability questions at the international level.
About the Author
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
September 22, 2025, 12:54 IST
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