Locals Find 13 Bullet-Riddled Bodies of Pakistani Army Detainees

Officials Dub Slain 'Taliban Fighters'

Shepherds in the South Waziristan Agency of Pakistan’s tribal areas have found the bodies of 13 men, bullet-riddled and partially eaten by wild animals, which had been left in the countryside near Mandao village.

Villagers said the 13 men were among 35 from the village who have been rounded up by the Pakistani military in a raid on the village in January. The fate of the other 22 men remains unknown.

Villagers went on to say they had been pressing the military on the fate of the men for some time, and had been repeatedly assured they were being questioned and would be released soon.

Pakistani officials disputed the claim, saying that the 13 bodies found were “Taliban fighters” and that they were still investigating exactly what happened to them. They did not address the detentions at all.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.