Pakistan Cricket Ground in Bajaur suffers Drone Strike, Three Civilians Injured

Three civilians were injured on Friday in Pakistan when militants launched a drone strike on a cricket ground in the Shahi Tangi area of Mamund tehsil, Bajaur district, while a local match was in progress.

The suspected quadcopter attack caused panic among players and spectators. The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, where they are reported to be in stable condition. No fatalities have been reported.

Security forces swiftly cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to track down the perpetrators. Security across the region has been placed on high alert. Tribal elders and local residents strongly condemned the assault, demanding the complete eradication of “Fitna al-Khawarij” militants from the area. The strike is part of a pattern in which militants, increasingly resorting to asymmetric tactics, are targeting soft civilian sites such as sports grounds after suffering setbacks in direct confrontations with Pakistani forces.

The attack is believed to have been carried out by Khawarij elements operating from across the Afghan border, using small commercial drones fitted with explosives—a low-cost method the group has employed in previous incidents against civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. No group has yet claimed responsibility.

The incident underscores the fragile security situation in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal districts, where militants continue to exploit border porosity despite intensified counter-terrorism operations. Residents of Mamund have appealed to authorities for enhanced anti-drone measures and stricter border vigilance to prevent further attacks on public gatherings.

Such strikes aim to spread fear and disrupt normal life in the region. Pakistani forces have repeatedly foiled similar drone attempts in recent months.