Muhammad Younas
The people of Tirah Valley are once again in mourning after overnight airstrikes killed 21 residents, including 12 children, in one of the deadliest incidents the region has seen in recent years.
The strikes hit homes in Shadale Aka Khel, a remote part of Khyber district near the Orakzai boundary. Survivors and neighbors worked through the night with shovels and bare hands to pull bodies from the rubble. Visiting preachers joined in the search until every victim was recovered.
By morning, hundreds of mourners gathered for a collective funeral. The atmosphere was heavy with grief — men wept openly, and mothers clung to the coffins of their children before they were lowered into the ground.
Children Among the Dead
Of the 21 killed, 12 were children, six women, and three men. Many of the victims belonged to a single extended family.
“The children of this valley have been the first to pay the price of every conflict,” said one elder during the funeral prayers. “We can rebuild our homes, but we cannot bring our children back.”
According to figures from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Protection and Welfare Commission (KPCPWC), 402 cases of child rights violations were reported across the province in the past six months, including seven child murders (Dawn, March 2024). Aid workers warn the numbers may be far higher in remote tribal areas where incidents often go unreported.
Community Confirmation
The death toll was confirmed by Tehsil Chairman Mufti Kafil, local media, and residents who attended the burial. Community members say they verified the numbers themselves.
“We counted every body with our own hands,” said a volunteer who took part in the rescue. “Seventeen of them were from one family. This tragedy will remain in our hearts for generations.”
Local journalist Islam Gul, who has reported from Khyber for more than 15 years, described the difficulty of covering the devastation.
“It is very painful to report the suffering of our own people,” he said. “Every time we write about displacement, floods, or conflict, it feels like writing the obituary of our society.”
Protest and Demands for Justice
In the aftermath, hundreds of residents staged a protest in Bara subdivision of Khyber district, blocking the Pak-Afghan highway for several hours. They demanded an independent investigation and compensation for the victims’ families.
A jirga (tribal council) later decided that all funerals would be held collectively in Shadale Aka Khel to honor the dead and keep the community united in grief.
A Valley Long Scarred by Conflict
Tirah Valley has endured years of militancy, military operations, and mass displacement. Thousands of families were uprooted in past conflicts and only recently began returning to rebuild their lives.
This latest tragedy comes just two months after five people were killed during protests in the region following a stray mortar shell blast. Residents now fear a return to instability if such incidents continue.
As the sun set over the mountains, fresh graves lined the village cemetery. The silence was broken only by the cries of grieving mothers and the whispered prayers of mourners.
For the people of Shadale Aka Khel, their demand is simple: a life without fear, where children can grow up in safety. Whether that demand will be heard remains uncertain — but on this day, 21 graves stood as a solemn reminder of the price this community has paid.
