The issue of the deaths in a suspected drone strike by security forces against militants in the Babuzai mountains of the Katalang region in the Mardan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains a topic of discussion.
Shahbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s political affairs advisor, and senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Rana Sanaullah, stated that the casualties in an intelligence-based operation in Mardan’s Katalang area were individuals who were militants.
It is important to note that on Friday night, an operation was carried out against militants in Mardan’s Katalang area, and it was claimed that civilians were killed during the operation. Local people claim that the operation was carried out using drones, though the Pakistan Army has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has said that a thorough investigation will be conducted regarding the deaths of civilians during the security forces’ operation in Katalang, and the provincial government will issue a position after the inquiry.
Rana Sanaullah, in an interview with Geo News’ program “Naya Pakistan,” mentioned that he did not have many details regarding the Katalang operation. He further clarified that the Pakistani Army Chief had previously expressed a clear commitment to eliminating the hideouts of militants and extremists in the country.
Rana Sanaullah added that the operation in Katalang was intelligence-based, targeting militants based on reliable information. He said, “If militants keep their wives and children with them and prepare for terrorist activities, then action will be taken against them.”
The spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, Barrister Saif, confirmed the deaths of women and children, stating that a counter-terrorism operation was conducted based on credible information about the presence of militants in the area. However, it was later reported that non-combatant women and children were also present at the location, resulting in their unfortunate deaths.
BBC’s reporter Azizullah Khan quoted the Medical Superintendent of Type D Hospital Katalang, Luqman, saying that the deceased included two women and a young boy, along with seven men, who appeared to have suffered blast burn injuries and their bodies were charred.
On Saturday, local residents staged a protest by placing the bodies of the victims on the Swat Express Highway. After negotiations with local authorities, the protest was called off once demands, including the registration of an FIR, provision of martyr packages to the victims’ families, and a commitment to not conduct such operations in the future, were accepted.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also issued a statement, confirming that a comprehensive inquiry would be conducted into the deaths of civilians during the security forces’ operation in Katalang.
He stated, “The deaths of civilians during the operation in Katalang are condemnable. However, the provincial government will issue a position after the full inquiry report.”
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Salman Akram Raja expressed his grief and concern over the Katalang incident on social media, stating, “The PTI parliamentary party, core, and political committee are united in their sorrow over the deaths of innocent children, women, and men. There will be accountability for these deaths. It is unacceptable to justify such deaths as collateral damage of war. Imran Khan has always condemned such blind attacks.”