Civilian toll mounts as Pakistan expands domestic drone operations in KP

A suspected drone strike on June 21, 2025, in the Makin area of South Waziristan killed an 11-year-old boy and wounded five other schoolchildren as they walked home. According to Dawn, eyewitnesses reported that a small drone hovered overhead before releasing its payload. The incident triggered widespread protests, with residents blocking roads and tribal elders convening a jirga to demand an independent investigation and compensation for the victims.

This incident came just a month after another strike in North Waziristan.