Three Girls Killed in Suspected South Waziristan Drone Strike
SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Three young girls were killed and four other members of their family were injured early Sunday in a suspected quadcopter attack in Lower South Waziristan, raising fresh alarm over civilian safety in one of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s most sensitive tribal districts.
According to local accounts, the incident took place in the Nargasi area of Birmal tehsil, where munitions were reportedly dropped on a residential house. The home was said to belong to a member of the Dinor subtribe, and the victims were from the same family.
The deceased girls were aged between six and 15, while the injured included a woman and three boys. Residents rushed to the affected house soon after the blast, carried out initial rescue efforts and shifted the wounded to District Headquarters Hospital in Wana for emergency treatment.
Hospital sources said the injured were being treated and their condition was under medical observation. Local residents described scenes of grief and panic after the incident, with families in the area demanding that authorities establish how the strike occurred and who was responsible.
No formal statement had been issued by the relevant authorities at the time of reporting. Officials had also not publicly confirmed the exact nature of the explosion, the source of the suspected attack, or whether any group had claimed responsibility.
Community members have called for a transparent investigation, saying the deaths of children inside a home require urgent clarification and accountability. They argue that uncertainty around such incidents deepens fear among civilians already living under a fragile security environment.
Residents said similar suspected quadcopter-related incidents had been reported earlier in parts of Birmal tehsil, including Azam Warsak, Guldona Ghundai, Karmazi, Staff and Kalotai. They claim repeated attacks have caused casualties and intensified anxiety across local communities.
The latest incident comes amid broader concerns over deteriorating law and order in Lower South Waziristan during the past one and a half years. Locals point to a rise in bombings, targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and attacks on police and security personnel.
The episode is also being viewed against the backdrop of other recent suspected drone-style attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier this week, a woman was killed and several family members were injured in a suspected strike near Peshawar, while separate incidents in Bajaur also caused deaths and injuries.
For Pakistan, the incident highlights the urgent challenge of protecting civilians while responding to militant violence in border districts. Local communities are now looking to provincial and federal authorities for a clear investigation, public explanation and stronger security steps to prevent further loss of innocent lives.