HUNDREDS
of Pakistanis rallied yesterday against an army operation in the North
Waziristan tribal area that residents claim killed many civilians even
though the military said the offensive targeted militants.
About 300 people, mostly students from North Waziristan, took to the streets in the frontier city of Peshawar, near the border with Afghanistan, to denounce the operation and demand an investigation.
Zahidullah Khan, a student at Peshawar University from the village of Mosaki near the town of Mir Ali said his aunt was killed by military shelling.
“The army is claiming they have killed militants and terrorists. They think my aunt was a terrorist?” he said.
The military said the escalation in the tribal area began late Wednesday when a military convoy dispatched to assist with troop casualties came under attack. The convoy returned fire, and the military said its troops killed at least 23 alleged militants.
But some residents accused the military of killing innocent civilians.
North Waziristan is one of Pakistan’s most dangerous and remote areas, making it difficult for journalists to independently verify and report from there.
AP
About 300 people, mostly students from North Waziristan, took to the streets in the frontier city of Peshawar, near the border with Afghanistan, to denounce the operation and demand an investigation.
Zahidullah Khan, a student at Peshawar University from the village of Mosaki near the town of Mir Ali said his aunt was killed by military shelling.
“The army is claiming they have killed militants and terrorists. They think my aunt was a terrorist?” he said.
The military said the escalation in the tribal area began late Wednesday when a military convoy dispatched to assist with troop casualties came under attack. The convoy returned fire, and the military said its troops killed at least 23 alleged militants.
But some residents accused the military of killing innocent civilians.
North Waziristan is one of Pakistan’s most dangerous and remote areas, making it difficult for journalists to independently verify and report from there.
AP
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