May 23, 2025
By Kaleem Ullah
LAHORE
One morning, as Badsamida prepared breakfast for the children, getting the ready for school, a drone camera hovered over their home and dropped a bomb. The strike instantly killed her three sons, and a nephew.
Badsamida, lived in Hurmaz Village, in the heavily militarized area of North Waziristan. There are many like her there who live every day of their lives, ready for death to hit them at any hour.
In response, the local residents staged a sit-in outside the military fort in the area of Mir Ali.
Baitullah —a tribal elder describes the incident to the protesters at the sit-in. Baitullah is also a member of the team that is meant to hold negotiations with the militay.
He says that the family were having breakfast when the drone had appeared above their house. Initially flying at a high altitude, it gradually descended until it was just above the house’s walls. The drone then hovered there for a few minutes, as if taking aim.
Alarmed, Badsamida told the children to get away.
“Let’s go inside; the drone might drop a bomb,” she had only begun to speak when the bomb was dropped. What happened after that remains a blur. In the middle of all the chaos, no one could rescue the children. The drone ominously kept hovering as hell broke loose in the household.
“Those who were operating the drone must be enjoying the bloodbath – the screams, and terror,” Baitullah remarks bitterly. “Maybe they thought the tea and the parathas were actually explosives.”
Badsamida had four sons—three were killed in this attack, including one of her two disabled sons who used to be taken to school in a wheelchair by his brothers. The surviving disabled son was critically injured, along with Badsamida herself. Her husband’s brother also lost a son, while three other women in the household were also injured.
Speaking to a reporter, his voice heavy with grief, Badsamida’s brother-in-law said, “The bomb killed four of my nephews. Two died on the spot, one died in my lap as I rushed him to the hospital, and the fourth succumbed to his injuries at Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital in Bannu. Their mother and my sisters were also severely injured.”
Locals firmly believe that the drone belonged to the security forces. Their reasoning? Such drones frequently operate from military forts and installations in the area, and the precision and freedom with which the strike occurred is not something militants can typically execute.
Militarized zone
North Waziristan is a highly militarized zone in KP, and residents generally avoid going outside after dusk because of the fear of both militants and military personnel. The security forces often impose two-day curfews every week to secure military movement. Non-locals cannot enter Waziristan without prior approval from the administration and must declare the purpose of their visit while being vouched for by a local resident.
In 2014, the Pakistani government launched a massive military operation, Zarb-e-Azb, displacing millions of residents who were forced to live in IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps. Referring to that displacement, Badsamida’s brother-in-law makes an emotional appeal to the government.
“We are peaceful people. We are not terrorists, nor their sympathizers. We vacated our homes for you, leaving behind all our belongings so that you could eliminate terrorism and bring us peace. But you failed us. We can’t do more than this. All we ask now is to have mercy on us and our children.”
He pauses several times, struggling to compose himself.
Hayat Wazir, a member of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) and one of the sit-in organizers, is bitter about it all.
“This is not the first such incident—and it will not be the last,” he tells Voicepk. “This has become the new normal in our area, where our schools, homes, and madrassas are targeted almost daily.” He refers to the protest outside the fort. “Through this sit-in, we demand peace—from both the state and the Taliban. The former has ridiculed us, disgraced us
and our women, and trampled on our cultural values, privacy, and the sanctity of our homes—while the
Taliban exploit us as human shields.”
He added, “If our demands are not met, we will march to Peshawar and then Islamabad, carrying the bodies of our children.”
Already two of the children have been buried, while the bodies of the other two have been sealed tightly – enough to last even six months, they say.
Failed talks
A jirga, comprising tribal elders and local youth, was formed to negotiate with the authorities. Despite two rounds of talks with the military and civil administration, no progress was made. Dr Hayat, one of the negotiation team members, told Voicepk, “We demanded a court martial of the concerned brigadier from the Mir Ali brigade. The security officials have replied that it could only happen after the formation of a commission to investigate the matter, as they denied any involvement. When we instead demanded the brigadier’s transfer, the military requested seven days. We rejected this and gave them a 24-hour ultimatum.”
On Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement denying the allegations, calling them baseless and part of a disinformation campaign to discredit counterterrorism efforts. The statement read, “A comprehensive investigation was promptly initiated. Initial findings have established that this heinous act was orchestrated and executed by Indian-sponsored Fitna Al Khawarij.”
It further reaffirmed the security forces’ commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice. Journalist Adnan Bittani, who has extensively reported on militancy and the war on terror, told Voicepk, “These strikes are carried out using a remote-controlled quadcopter drone, capable of flying for an hour and covering 10 to 15 kilometers while carrying up to one kilogram of booby-trapped explosives. Its usage has increased significantly since the launch of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam.”
He notes that the first reported drone strike of this kind occurred in Lakki Marwat, claimed by security officials who described the drone as an “accurate and effective” tool in anti-militancy operations. However, Bittani added, “Locals complain that instead of targeting militants, these strikes are killing and injuring civilians. Most of these attacks have targeted homes, children’s playgrounds, and other civilian areas.”
When asked if the Taliban also possess drone technology, he says, “While the Taliban have used drones for surveillance and other non-military purposes, there’s no confirmed report of their use for military attacks. That said, the government has the capability to intercept and control such drones if needed.”
However, Rasool Dawar, a Peshawar-based journalist from Mir Ali, says the militants usually own their attacks.
“Militant groups have occasionally claimed on social media that they use drones against security forces in the Mir Ali region. In a recent video, a Taliban commander is seen threatening teachers at a school in Sheewa, warning that if anyone returns to duty at a government school, they will be targeted with one of six drones reportedly in their possession.”
But the Taliban are silent over this incident. “Their silence is due to public pressure,” says Dawar. “And for the first time, people have openly criticized them during the sit-in, saying both the security forces and the militants are the same.”
Lives gone to waste
According to reports, from April 22 a total of 10 people were killed and 19 injured in mortar shelling, while eight people were killed and 24 injured in drone strikes. A further breakdown reveals that among the mortar shelling casualties were five male children and one female child, with 11 females and one male child injured. This is the 6th incident of drone strike in the month of May. In which a total of 8 people killed and 28 injured. Categories wise breakdown of the data shows, In the category of injured, 15 are women, 8 are male children and one female child. While in the people killed category, 4 are male children, three adult man and one women.
It can be seen that most of the casualties are those of women and children. Prior to this incident, a house was also targeted in the Jani Khel area of Bannu resulting in 15 people being injured, including five children under the age of five, and eight women.
Protests and peace marches have erupted in pockets of the country, and there have been demands for justice and lasting peace in the region. Civil society groups have condemned the incident and called for an impartial investigation.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed concern in a recent statement.
“While the source of the strike remains unclear, the continued use of drones in civilian areas is deeply concerning and constitutes a grave violation of human rights, including the fundamental right to life. HRCP supports the local community’s demand for an independent investigation into the incident.”