News Brief
Pakistan Airstrikes Kill 30 In Khyber Valley, Women And Children Among Victims
30 Killed in Pakistan Airstrikes on Khyber Valley, Civilians Including Women and Children Among Casualties. (X)
At least 30 people, including women and children, were killed in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday (22 September) when the Pakistan Air Force conducted airstrikes targeting Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in the Tirah Valley, reported Hindustan Times.
The airstrikes reportedly involved the dropping of eight bombs on a village in the region. Social media videos depicted injured children lying on makeshift beds, with locals assessing the damage. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue.
Tirah Valley, situated between Khyber Pass and Khanki Valley along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, has long been a hotspot for militancy. The valley has been used by various militant groups, including al-Qaeda, to escape into Pakistan following the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
Pakistani airstrikes have been a recurring measure to dismantle terrorist cells operating in the area.
This strategic shift is seen as a direct consequence of intensified counter-terrorism actions, pushing these outfits away from their earlier strongholds, according to The Times Of India.
The TTP, a group aligned with the Afghan Taliban, has been engaged in an ongoing insurgency against the Pakistani state. The recent uptick in militant attacks, including suicide bombings and assaults on security forces, underscores the escalating security challenges in the region. The Pakistani military has intensified operations against these groups, leading to significant casualties on both sides.
