Protest sit-in over North Waziristan 'drone strike' called off after successful talks

A weeklong protest sit-in against a deadly quad-copter strike in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa came to an end on Tuesday after successful negotiations between protesters and government officials. All entry and exit points blocked by the sit-in protest have been reopened.

The quad-copter dropped explosives on a house in the Hormuz area of Mir Ali last week, killing four children from the same family and critically injuring their mother along with some other women. The attack triggered widespread outrage, with local tribesmen and activists condemning it as a violation of human rights.

According to the protest leader, Mufti Baitullah, the government and local tribal elders reached consensus on key points that are expected to bring relief to affected families and promote trust-building in the region.

The agreement envisages compensation package for the martyrs, investigation into the Hormuz incident, immediate restoration of internet services in the area, release of a local tribal elder, and replacement of a local security official.

Explaining the agreement, Baitullah said that a compensation package will be announced for the families of those martyred in the quad-copter strike. Law enforcement agencies will refrain from using drones, surveillance cameras, or mortar shells on the local population in the future, he added.

Second, an impartial committee will be formed to conduct a transparent inquiry into the Hormuz strike. The local population has requested representation on the committee to ensure the truth is revealed.

Third, internet services in the region will be restored immediately to allow residents access to information and to support educational and commercial activities.

Fourth, tribal jirgas will be held to address the release of tribal elder Malik Akbar Khan, the withdrawal of military personnel from Mir Ali Hospital, and the lifting of the curfew.

Fifth, a guarantee has been made that no drone attacks will be carried out under the command of the local security official. In case of any violation, protestors have warned they will seal all operations of companies extracting resources from North Waziristan.

Local residents have described the outcome of the negotiations as a “partial success,” stressing that they expect tangible action, not just verbal promises. Speaking to The Express Tribune, local elder Haji Inam said: “We have made countless sacrifices. Now we want justice, security, and development. Words alone won’t heal our wounds — only action will.”

The grieving father, whose four children were killed in the quad-copter strike, emotionally stated: “Is the life of my children worth just a report? Even if an inquiry is held, will I get my children back? At the very least, such cruelty should never happen to another parent.”

Fingers were pointed at the security forces following the Hormuz tragedy. However, the military said on May 19 that “these claims are entirely baseless and are part of a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the security forces' steadfast efforts in the ongoing counterterrorism operations.”

The military's media wing added that a comprehensive investigation initiated after the incident has established that "this heinous act has been orchestrated and executed by Indian-sponsored 'Fitna Al Khwarij' — a reference to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

"It is evident that these elements — acting at the behest of their Indian masters — continue to exploit civilian areas and vulnerable populations as shields to conduct their reprehensible acts of terrorism," it further stated, adding that such tactics aims to unsuccessfully sow discord between the local population and the security forces.