A project tracking drone
deaths in Pakistan

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Mamrud Khan

Gender

Male

Tribe

Utmanzai Wazir

Age

Unknown

Reported status

Reported civilian

Civilian occupation

Chromite miner


Case study

Mamrud Khan was among four Utmanzai Wazir tribesmen killed as they drove to a local chromite mine.

Initial reports citing anonymous ‘officials’ said the dead were all Taliban. But they were later identified as chromite miners.

Saeedur Rehman, a chromite dealer, was identified first by Pakistani newspaper The News. And Khastar Gul, Mamrud Khan, and Noorzal Khan were later listed in the New York Times, all described as chromite miners.

Sixty-four year old farmer Noor Magul told the New York Times that Khastar Gul, Mamrud Khan and Noorzal Khan had no militant links. A relative of the three, he said: ‘I have revenge in my heart… I just want to grab a drone by the tail and smash it into the ground.’

The four were driving through Doga Madakhel village when CIA drones struck. As many as four missiles reportedly hit the vehicle. It appears to have been a substantial blast: a house was reportedly damaged in the attack. The bodies were reportedly badly mutilated. They were buried in Danday Darpakhel, a village near Miranshah.

Chromite is a mineral used in the manufacturing of steel. It is easily accessible in surface deposits in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Criminal mining syndicates are reportedly removing chromite from Afghanistan’s Khost province. This illicit material is smuggled into Pakistan where the Taliban and Haqqani Network are reportedly paid by smugglers to ensure safe passage across North Waziristan.

Died 30/10/2011

Details of the strike

    Known Family


About the project

CIA drone strikes have killed over 2,500 people in Pakistan; many are described as militants, but some are civilians. This is a record of those who have died in these attacks.

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Covert drone war

A project by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism tracking drone strikes and other covert US actions in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.

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The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

The Bureau is a not-for-profit research organisation based in London. It pursues in-depth journalism that is of public benefit.

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