"I was reciting the Quran in my room while the children's mother was serving them breakfast. My children were wearing their school bags and waiting for their younger brother, who was still finishing his tea." "The children were still in the courtyard when a powerful explosion occurred. Dust and smoke rose after the blast. I ran outside and saw that two of my children had died on the spot right in front of me. I picked up my third severely injured child in my arms — he too died in my arms just moments later. These tragic civilian casualties in the drone attack have deeply shaken our family." These are the words of Shah Fahad, father of the four children who were killed in an alleged drone strike in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, a region often described as a North Waziristan conflict zone in the context of militancy and counterterror operations. Shah Fahad attended a protest against drone strikes in Mir Ali along with the bodies of his two sons. The Mir Ali drone incident prompted widespread outrage, and the sit-in protest has entered its fifth day, as local tribal elders claim that negotiations with the authorities have so far been unsuccessful. Shah Fahad claims that before the explosion, the children in the courtyard saw a suspected drone flying above their house and shouted to alert their parents. He further alleges that when he came out into the courtyard after the blast, the attacking drone was still hovering in the sky — a chilling detail in the ongoing drone strike investigation in Pakistan. Shah Fahad is now protesting alongside local tribes, demanding justice and action against those responsible for the incident — a strong demand for justice in drone killings that has echoed across the region. He recounts that immediately after the blast, residents gathered at his house, and efforts were made to transport the bodies of his three children and the injured to a nearby hospital. However, before they could reach the hospital, his fourth child also succumbed to his injuries — one of several innocent lives lost in drone warfare. It’s important to note that the fourth child killed in the incident was Shah Fahad’s nephew, whom he considered and raised as his son. In addition to the children, four people, including his wife, were injured in the incident — a painful reminder of the impact of drone strikes on civilians. Speaking about the tragedy, Shah Fahad said, "What can I say about this incident? But I will say this much — whoever committed this atrocity should be treated the same way." Shah Fahad, drone strike victim, continues to seek justice for his lost children. On Wednesday, District Police Officer Waqar Ahmed confirmed the incident and the resulting fatalities. The police officials stated that local residents had informed them it was an alleged drone attack in Pakistan, but investigations are ongoing to determine where the drone came from — a crucial step in addressing children killed in a drone strike and holding those responsible accountable.

Sit-ins and negotiations

Following the drone strike protest in Mir Ali, a sit-in against drone attacks began with the bodies of four children. However, on Wednesday, two of the children were buried, while the bodies of the other two remain in coffins at the local mosque. Local tribal leaders demand justice and say that negotiations with authorities have so far been unsuccessful, highlighting a deadlock in talks with officials. A large number of people, including local tribal and political leaders, are participating in the sit-in that continues in North Waziristan. Maulana Baitullah, spokesperson for the Utmanzai tribe and a participant in the tribal jirga and government talks, said that on Thursday, a meeting was held at the Governor’s Cottage in Miranshah. During the meeting, several issues were discussed, including calls for an investigation commission to probe the incident. The commission would be expected to submit its report within a week. He claimed that the local tribes also made demands for accountability in drone strikes, including the transfer of the concerned security officials from the area, but so far, no response has been received from the authorities. Maulana Baitullah said he would consult with his tribes before giving a formal response to the officials. He added that the sit-in would continue until their demands were met. Local tribal leaders stated that if the jirga negotiations with the authorities fail, marking a failure of peace negotiations, they will consult with their people, and then protesters will threaten an Islamabad march or go to Peshawar. When Naik Muhammad asked his companion, ‘What is this strange metallic bird flying over our heads?’ it reflected the public outrage over drone killings and the rising awareness of mass mobilization in Waziristan. A previous drone strike in Katlang targeted militants and highlighted Pakistan’s drone capabilities. Other events like the night Osama bin Laden came for dinner in Waziristan and the Taliban presence mark this area as a North Waziristan conflict zone. Maulana Baitullah stated that the children’s bodies are still lying there, and if the community decides, they will take the coffins to Islamabad or Peshawar to protest, demonstrating strong tribal unity against injustice. He said national elders have made full preparations for the move. Vehicles have been arranged, and people in Bannu, Karak, Kohat, and Peshawar have also been told to prepare for the journey. Government sources involved in the negotiations claim that they have informed tribal leaders that the drone strike was not carried out by security forces. They assured the protesters’ representatives that an investigation would be conducted and that anyone found responsible would be held accountable. They also claimed that in recent months, militants have started using quadcopters, and it’s possible that the attack was carried out by militants. Tribal leader Abdul Khaleel Wazir said that not only did the people inside the house see the attacking drone, but residents also witnessed it.

Local tribal elders say their talks with authorities have not been successful, and they will soon announce their departure for Islamabad or Peshawar.

ISPR's response