Two sons of a prominent tribal elder were martyred in a targeted attack carried out by terrorists of Fitna al-Khwarij in South Waziristan Lower, according to local sources.
The incident took place in the Kiri Kot area on Friday, where armed terrorists reportedly targeted Naveed and Moeenuddin, the sons of respected tribal elder Malik Jameel of the Toji Khel branch of the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe. Both were martyred in the attack.
Sources said investigations are ongoing and some reports suggest the incident may have roots in a tribal dispute. However, even if personal rivalries were involved, residents maintain that Fitna al-Khwarij acted as hired killers, once again demonstrating their willingness to serve criminal interests in exchange for money and influence.
Malik Jameel is widely regarded as one of the most influential elders in the region and has consistently advocated for peace, education, and development in South Waziristan. Residents believe the attack was intended to intimidate voices that oppose terrorism and support stability in the tribal districts.
The latest tragedy adds to a long list of sacrifices made by Malik Jameel’s family. Sources said two of his other sons had also been martyred in separate incidents over the past several years, making the latest attack the fourth major loss suffered by the family.
The Ahmadzai Wazir tribe has paid a heavy price in the fight against terrorism and has long been considered one of the key tribal forces resisting terrorist influence in the region.
The attack comes only weeks after another prominent Ahmadzai tribal elder, Malik Tariq of the Zali Khel branch, was martyred in a bomb attack on May 18. Three people were martyred and five others injured when terrorists planted explosive material under the cover of darkness and targeted his vehicle.
Following Malik Tariq’s elimination, Malik Jameel was regarded by many locals as one of the tribe’s most senior and influential remaining elders.
Residents and tribal figures say the repeated targeting of respected elders highlights a broader pattern in which terrorists attempt to weaken tribal structures that have historically opposed extremism and supported cooperation with the state.
Locals also argue that Fitna al-Khwarij increasingly functions not only as a terrorist organization but as a tool for criminal networks and vested interests seeking to settle scores through violence. They warn that continued silence and facilitation by certain local elements only strengthens the terrorists’ ability to operate.
Community leaders have called on residents to stand firmly alongside security forces and law enforcement agencies in order to deny terrorists any space, support, or sanctuary and ensure the complete neutralization of the threat from the region.
The incident comes amid an intensified counterterrorism campaign across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the merged tribal districts under the national vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, with security forces continuing intelligence-based operations against terrorist networks and facilitators across the province.
