MIR ALI, Pakistan — Thousands of angry protesters filled the streets of northwest Pakistan on Tuesday after a suspected drone strike killed four children and injured five others, triggering outrage in the militancy-plagued town of Mir Ali, where demonstrators refused to bury the victims until authorities identify those responsible.
The deadly strike occurred Monday in Mir Ali, a town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province long associated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) activity. Residents, joined by tribal elders, placed the children’s bodies along a main road, demanding answers from the government and chanting “We want justice” as they blocked a major thoroughfare.
“We are not blaming anyone yet, but we demand justice,” said local elder Mufti Baitullah. “The government must tell us who killed our innocent children. We will not bury the bodies until we know who is responsible.”
The Pakistani military has not commented on the incident, and it remains unclear who launched the drone. No group has claimed responsibility, and officials have yet to confirm whether the strike originated from a state or militant-operated drone.
Tensions have surged across the region, where drone strikes have become increasingly controversial. In March, a drone targeting militants in the city of Mardan left 11 civilians dead, including women and children. That incident sparked widespread protests until the government agreed to compensate victims’ families.
Security experts say that in addition to state actors, some militant groups have begun using quadcopters and drones to strike military positions. “It’s unclear whether the Mir Ali attack was carried out by a state or a non-state actor,” said Abdullah Khan, director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. “Both have access to this technology now.”
Mir Ali, located near the Afghan border, has long been a stronghold for the Pakistani Taliban, also known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The group, distinct from the Afghan Taliban, frequently targets security forces in the area. Military operations in the region have intensified in recent months as the government attempts to suppress insurgent activity.
Nayak Muhammad Dawar, a provincial minister, condemned the attack and confirmed that a formal investigation is underway. “The loss of innocent lives is unacceptable,” he said in a statement.
Residents warned that the protests could escalate if authorities fail to provide a transparent account of the incident. Baitullah said the people of Mir Ali will not rest until accountability is served.
As anger simmers and families mourn, the tragedy highlights the enduring human cost of conflict in Pakistan’s tribal regions, where civilians are often caught in the crossfire between insurgents and state forces. Calls for transparency and justice grow louder, while political leaders remain under pressure to explain how four children came to be the latest victims of an invisible war waged from the sky.
