Deadly Operation in Mardan Sparks Controversy and Protests Over Civilian Casualties

 Mardan, Pakistan – March 29, 2025, At least 11 people were killed in the early hours of Saturday in the Shamozai area of Katlang tehsil, Mardan district, in an incident that has ignited fierce debate and protests. Local residents claim the deaths resulted from a drone strike that killed civilians, including women and children from a shepherd community, while provincial authorities insist it was a targeted counter-terrorism operation against militants that resulted in unintended "collateral damage."

Conflicting Narratives

According to a press note from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provincial government, the operation was an intelligence-based effort targeting a remote hilltop hideout in Katlang used by armed militants as a transit point. The statement confirmed that several "high-value targets" involved in militant activities were "successfully neutralized." However, it also acknowledged the deaths of "non-combatants," attributing the civilian casualties to the complex terrain and militants’ tactics of embedding within civilian populations.

Locals, however, tell a starkly different story. They insist the deceased were shepherds from the Gujjar community, including women and children, who had temporarily settled in the area for the winter before their seasonal migration back to Upper Swat. Identified victims include Hazrat Bilal, Noor Muhammad, Wazir, Amroz Khan, and Shahazada alias Shah Da, with the identities of others still unknown. Residents vehemently deny the presence of militants, asserting that the attack—described by some as a drone strike—claimed innocent lives.

"These were peaceful shepherds," said Jannat Gul, a relative of the victims. "We carry only small sticks for our livestock and sickles to cut grass. We’re not militants."

Official Response and Condolences

The provincial government called the civilian deaths "painful and regrettable," extending condolences to the affected families. It pledged to investigate the circumstances of civilian presence in the area, provide medical assistance to the injured, and facilitate relief and compensation for victims’ families. However, these assurances have done little to quell local outrage.

Protests Erupt

In response to the incident, relatives of the victims, joined by residents of Shamozai and nearby areas, staged a demonstration by placing the bodies of the deceased on the Swat Motorway, blocking both lanes. The protesters accused security forces of targeting innocent shepherds and demanded justice. A heavy police contingent was deployed to maintain order as the demonstration disrupted traffic.

Jalat Khan, a leader of the Gujjar community in Swat, condemned the operation and called for compensation and accountability. "If our demands are not met, the entire Gujjar community will take to the streets after Eidul Fitr," he warned. The protesters also pressed for a First Information Report (FIR) to be registered, threatening further action, including additional road blockades, if their calls were ignored.

Negotiations led by Mardan Deputy Commissioner Dr. Azmatullah Wazir and District Police Officer Zahoor Afridi, alongside political figures such as PTI MPA Zarshad Anjum and JUI-F leader Mufti Hamad Yousafzai, eventually persuaded the demonstrators to disperse after the district administration accepted their demands. The Swat Motorway was subsequently reopened.

Political Backlash

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders. Dr. Amjad Ali, a member of the KP Assembly from Swat, denounced the attack as "an act of state terrorism against innocent civilians." He claimed that authorities were restricting access to the area, preventing people from collecting the bodies of their loved ones. "This is an outrage that cannot be ignored," he said.

A Community in Mourning

The Gujjar community, known for its seasonal migration between Upper Swat and lower regions like Mardan, now finds itself at the center of a tragedy that has deepened distrust between locals and the state. As investigations unfold, questions linger about the accuracy of the intelligence that prompted the operation and the true cost of Pakistan’s ongoing fight against militancy.