In a reprehensible attack on innocent civilians, terrorists in Mir Ali tehsil of North Waziristan once again targeted local populations, attempting to inflict harm on unarmed residents. Sources report that during heavy clashes between security forces and terrorists in the village of Hasu Khel, militants fired mortar shells at Khushhaliy and Hasu Khel, causing partial damage to a home and injuring livestock.
This attack is the latest in a disturbing pattern of terrorist violence in the region. On April 5, three civilians, including a woman, in Khyber were injured by mortar fire originating from an unknown location. On April 2, a blast near Bannu’s Domel police station claimed the lives of a family of five and left 13 others injured. Similarly, on April 1, a young girl sustained injuries in an attack by the Balochistan Liberation Army, and on March 31, an eleven-year-old boy was wounded in terrorist violence.
The threat extends across the border, with Afghan Taliban forces also targeting civilians. Four brothers were martyred after mortar fire struck a residential area in Leti (Tari Pasha) along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Bajaur District, underscoring the persistent cross-border menace.
Militants’ brutality has also manifested in targeted killings. On March 16, two violent incidents in Bannu district resulted in the deaths of a prominent local leader and a young resident. Malik Nabiullah, a well-known political and social figure from the Lakki Marwat Machan Khel community, was abducted while traveling with three companions near Domel. His companions were released, but Malik Nabiullah was executed and left on the roadside. In a separate incident near Baka Khel Tochi Bridge, Shah Zeb Khan, a young resident of the Barkazai community, was abducted from his village on Sunday night and later found murdered.
Law enforcement authorities have launched formal investigations into both killings. Officials emphasized securing the affected areas, gathering evidence, and identifying perpetrators as immediate priorities. Additional patrols have been deployed, and residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any information that may aid investigations.
As fighting continues in Hasu Khel, security forces have cordoned off the area and intensified operations against the terrorists. Analysts warn that the repeated targeting of civilians, alongside cross-border attacks and targeted killings, reflects the militants’ unrelenting cruelty and their Afghan patrons’ support, keeping the local population under constant fear.
