PESHAWAR, Sept 22: At least 24 people, including women and children, were killed and several others injured on Monday after a massive explosion tore through a compound in the Tirah Valley of northwest Pakistan’s Khyber district, officials and local residents said.
Police claimed the blast was caused by explosive materials stored at a compound allegedly linked to the Pakistani Taliban. However, residents insisted that the destruction was the result of aerial strikes carried out by fighter jets. No official statement has been issued so far by the Pakistani Government.
According to the Station House Officer of Tirah Police Station, Zafar Khan, 14 militants and 10 civilians — including women and children — were killed in the blast. The compound was reportedly being used for IED production and sniper training, housing both local and Afghan fighters.
Local residents announced the closure of Bara Bazaar to protest the tragedy, demanding accountability and stronger protections. Political leaders, including National Assembly member Mohammad Iqbal Khan Afridi and Provincial Assembly lawmaker Abdul Ghani Afridi, blamed the deaths on airstrikes and urged people to continue protests.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed shock over the loss of civilian lives in alleged aerial bombings, calling for an immediate and impartial inquiry. “The state is constitutionally bound to protect civilians’ right to life, which it has repeatedly failed to secure,” the HRCP said in a statement on X.
Police also pointed out that militants often store large quantities of explosives inside civilian areas, which can lead to devastating accidental blasts. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terror incidents since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in 2021, dashing hopes of Islamabad for reduced militancy under a “friendly” Kabul regime.
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Labels: Pakistan, Terrorism, International
Tags: #Pakistan #Blast #Taliban #Khyber #Peshawar #TirahValley #JammuNewsPortal
Disclaimer: This news report is based on inputs from Press Trust of India (PTI) and verified public sources. Jammu News Portal strives for factual and authentic reporting, though we do not take responsibility for any inadvertent errors. Readers are encouraged to verify official communications for complete details.
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