Around 2 AM local time, Pakistani Air Force jets reportedly dropped eight LS-6 bombs from JF-17 fighter jets on Matre Dara village. (Videograb)
An airstrike in Pakistan’s own province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa killed around 30 people. The victims include women and children. The strike hit Matre Dara village, in the Tirah Valley, in the early hours of September 22. The Pakistani military and government have not yet issued a public explanation.
Around 2 AM local time, Pakistani Air Force jets reportedly dropped eight LS-6 bombs from JF-17 fighter jets on Matre Dara village. The bombs caused widespread damage. Homes and streets became scenes of devastation.
Videos from the village show people carrying bodies — men carrying their loved ones out of homes. Witnesses described brutal scenes with civilians, including children and women, among the dead.
Authorities have remained silent so far. They have not confirmed who specifically was targeted or whether militants were involved. Local and international human rights groups are calling for an investigation into the incident.
After the strike, the village turned into a sea of grief. A mass funeral took place in Matre Dara, where men carried the bodies of their loved ones wrapped in white shrouds. Hundreds of people gathered to mourn together, chanting prayers and expressing anger at the loss of innocent lives.
The funeral looked like a huge procession, stretching across the valley, and showed the depth of sorrow in the community.
The bombs used are LS-6 — laser-guided precision munitions. The Pakistani jets involved are JF-17 Thunder fighters. These bombs allow targeting with high accuracy. However, when used in populated areas, damage and loss of life among civilians can still be devastating.
Matre Dara is in Tirah Valley, a rugged area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The region has seen militant activity and Pakistani counter-terrorism operations in recent years.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government condemned the deaths. It has promised compensation to the victims’ families.
People in the region are outraged. Some reports say thousands attended funerals and protested against what they call a massacre. Human rights groups are demanding transparency and accountability.
Meanwhile, Pakistani military sources have not officially confirmed the strike. Some officials have said that the casualties could be from explosives stored in a militant compound that went off accidentally. But these explanations are being questioned by locals and observers.
