Peshawar:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s prime minister (KP), Ali Amin Gandapur, promised an investigation on Sunday after civilian casualties during Saturday’s anti-terrorism operation in the mountainous region of Katlang in the Mardan district.
In a statement, the prime minister emphasized that the investigation would examine all aspects to establish the facts. He assured that the provincial government would take a clear position on the matter once the investigation report was completed.
According to an Express News report, the main minister said that previous anti -terrorist operations in the same area had also resulted in the elimination of high profile terrorists, including Mohsin Baqar and Abbas. He assured the full support of his government for the families of the victims.
Earlier on Saturday, the KP government expressed its regret for the civil casualties reported in Mardan, extending its “deepest condolences” and expressing their support for affected families “in their time of pain.”
The security forces carried out an operation in the early hours of Saturday in the remote area of Katlang in Mardan. The operation was based on credible intelligence with respect to the presence of terrorists, who were using the location as a point of hiding and transit.
The KP government said the operation successfully neutralized several high -value objectives, adding that “unfortunately, subsequent reports confirmed the presence of non -combatants, including women and children, on the periphery of the target area, which resulted in tragic civil victims.”
This, he said, was an immensely painful development. “Everything possible during such operations is done to avoid collateral damage. However, the complex land, the deliberate tactics of the militants to embed into civil populations, and the fog of the war can sometimes lead to unintended consequences.”
The KP government extended its deepest condolences to affected families, stating that immediate measures were being taken to investigate the circumstances surrounding the civil presence in the area. “The efforts are underway to]extend medical aid to injured and compensation for the families of the victims.
