Pakistani authorities have said that 10 civilians, including women and children, were killed during an anti-terror operation in the country's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Authorities said the incident took place in the early hours of yesterday in a remote area of Katlang, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It is rare for Pakistan to acknowledge civilian casualties, and it has not yet been announced how Saturday's operation was carried out.
According to a report by a provincial government spokesman, the location was used as a "hideout and transit point" for terrorists. Subsequent information revealed that unarmed civilians were also present near the location.
"The death of a civilian is deeply regrettable, and the tragic incident occurred as a result of terrorist targeting," the spokesman said.
The injured were provided with emergency medical assistance, and compensation was provided to the families of the deceased.
"The safety of civilians always comes first during such operations. However, due to the complex geography, terrorists using the civilian population as cover can sometimes lead to tragic consequences," the spokesman said.
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