At around 2 am on Monday, the Pakistan Air Force dropped eight LS-6 bombs from JF-17 jets on Matre Dara village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, resulting in the loss of at least 30 civilian lives, including women and children, and destroying a large part of the village. Several others were reportedly injured.
Local media said the airstrikes targeted Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts. Recently, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen multiple military operations against militants along the Afghanistan border.
On Sunday, seven TTP members, including three Afghan nationals and two suicide attackers, were neutralized in Dera Ismail Khan. Between September 13-14, at least 31 TTP militants were eliminated in two separate operations.
Pakistan has reported a rise in militant activity along its border provinces. Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged Afghanistan to choose between siding with militants or supporting Pakistan.
