Pakistan faces internal uproar after drone strike kills four children

India Today

20-05-2025

While Pakistan continues to operate covert espionage networks beyond its borders, the country is now grappling with a national crisis at home. A Pakistani drone strike in the Hurmuz area of North Waziristan's Mir Ali district has reportedly killed four children from the same family, triggering a wave of anger and grief across the region.According to local reports, the airstrike was carried out by the Pakistan Air Force on Monday under the pretext of targeting militants. However, tragic visuals from the site show the bodies of young children who were playing outdoors when the bombs fell—raising serious questions about civilian safety and the army's rules of engagement.KILLING FUELS PROTESTSThe graphic images from the strike site have gone viral, sparking massive protests in the region. Residents of Hurmuz and surrounding areas gathered to demonstrate against the Pakistani Army's actions, accusing the military of using excessive force and indiscriminately targeting civilians under the guise of counterterrorism operations.Activists, community leaders, and civil society members have strongly condemned the attack. Human rights groups have called for an independent investigation and demanded accountability from both the military and the federal government.FIVE INJURED, INCLUDING A WOMAN AND CHILDRENIn addition to the four children killed, five more civilians—including another child and a woman—were seriously injured in the strike. They were rushed to a local hospital in Mir Ali, where they remain under medical care.MINISTER AVOIDS QUESTIONS ON CIVILIAN DEATHSPakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif refused to answer questions about the strike. When approached by a journalist seeking comment on the killing of Pashtun children in Mir Ali, he abruptly walked away—igniting further criticism over the government's silence and perceived indifference. KP MINISTER CONDEMNS ATTACK, VOWS ACTIONKhyber Pakhtunkhwa Relief Minister Haji Nek Muhammad Dawar on Monday strongly condemned the deaths of children and injuries to women from the alleged drone strike in North Waziristan. In a Facebook post, Dawar wrote:'I have already clearly said on the floor of the KP Assembly that all types of operations and war operations should be kept away from civilian populations, so that the common people, especially innocent women and children, are not harmed.'Speaking to Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, Dawar added: 'We will raise our voice at every forum and make every effort to bring those responsible to justice.'CALLS FOR RETHINKING DRONE STRATEGYPakistan's Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also weighed in on the incident during a session in Pakistan's National Assembly. He offered what he called 'positive advice' to the government, urging introspection within both the ruling establishment and the military.'The rulers and the establishment need to think about giving strength, reassurance, and confidence to the nation,' he said.'If today, drones still fall in Waziristan [] how will we respond to the people? These are sensitive matters and should be reconsidered. We cannot maintain national unity without thinking about this.' His remarks echoed a growing sentiment that the government's use of force in already fragile tribal regions could further alienate communities and erode public trust.BALOCH VOICES STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH PASHTUNSProminent Baloch writer and activist Mir Yar Baloch also condemned the airstrike, calling it a brutal act by Pakistan's "radicalised military establishment."'These children had dreams—to study, to laugh, to live. But Pakistan's military robbed them of their future,' Baloch said in a statement.He expressed solidarity with the Pashtun community and called on all oppressed voices within Pakistan to unite against military excesses.MILITARY UNDER FIRE AMID ESPIONAGE ACCUSATIONSThis incident comes at a time when Pakistan's military is already under international scrutiny for its involvement in espionage activities, including attempts to run spy networks in India. The drone strike has intensified internal dissent, with opposition leaders and human rights advocates questioning the unchecked power of the military and the silence of the civilian government.Tune InMust Watch
advertisement