Amnesty International has strongly criticised the government for failing to protect civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where suspected quadcopter and drone attacks have increasingly targeted populated areas, resulting in civilian casualties and widespread fear.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the global human rights group highlighted a troubling rise in such attacks across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan over the past year. Notably, in March, at least 11 people were killed in Mardan in what local residents described as a drone strike. Similarly, in May, an alleged quadcopter attack in Mir Ali tehsil of North Waziristan resulted in the deaths of four children and left five others injured. While the military stated that security forces were wrongfully blamed, it attributed the incident to the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Just last Friday, a child was killed and five others sustained injuries in another suspected drone strike in South Waziristan, triggering widespread condemnation from political figures in the province.
Isabelle Lassée, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, said, “Pakistani authorities have failed to safeguard the lives and property of civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who continue to suffer from an alarming surge in drone strikes.” She stressed that the use of drones and quadcopters in attacks that unlawfully kill civilians is a clear breach of international law. “The reported targeting of homes and recreational spaces like volleyball courts reflects a disturbing indifference to civilian safety,” she added.
Amnesty described Friday’s strike as part of a broader and deeply concerning pattern of attacks, noting that the frequency of such incidents has risen since March.
The organization called on the authorities to meet their legal obligations by launching “prompt, independent, transparent, and effective investigations” into all reported attacks, ensuring those responsible are held accountable through fair legal proceedings.
In another incident last month, 22 civilians—including children and young adults—were wounded in Birmal tehsil of Lower South Waziristan when a suspected quadcopter dropped munitions near Karmazi Stop along the Wana-Azam Warsak Road.
An earlier attack in October last year saw at least 13 civilians, mostly children, injured when a quadcopter allegedly released explosives over a crowded marketplace in Tirah valley. The injured were later transported to hospitals in Peshawar for treatment, according to local sources.
Amnesty’s statement reinforces growing calls for action to prevent further harm and protect vulnerable communities from indiscriminate aerial attacks in the region.
