In yet another act of terrorism targeting innocent civilians, mortar shells fired by terrorists landed on a populated area in Tirah Valley, resulting in casualties among women, children, and the elderly, according to sources.
A video circulating from the area shows members of the banned group attempting to fire mortar rounds. However, due to lack of proper training, the shells reportedly fell into nearby civilian settlements instead of any intended target, causing tragic loss of life and injuries among non-combatants.
Sources further revealed that shortly after the incident, facilitators linked to the terrorists exploited the situation by taking to the streets and raising misleading slogans against security forces, in what officials describe as a deliberate attempt to spread disinformation and distort facts on the ground.
Security officials have strongly condemned the targeting of unarmed civilians, terming it a cowardly tactic that reflects the desperation of terrorist elements under sustained pressure from ongoing counterterrorism operations.
Analysts and officials note that such attacks are not isolated incidents but part of a recurring pattern. Whenever terrorist networks suffer significant setbacks at the hands of security forces, they increasingly resort to soft targets to create fear and chaos.
Mortar attacks, alongside suicide bombings, improvised explosive device (IED) blasts, and the use of quadcopters, have frequently been reported in southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Bannu, Tank, and Lakki Marwat, as well as North Waziristan, Khyber, Bajaur, and other newly merged districts (NMDs), formerly known as the tribal areas.
Authorities reiterate that despite such tactics, security forces remain resolute in their mission to eliminate terrorism and protect civilian lives across the region
