Pakistan Alleges Afghan Taliban Backed Drone Incursion
News Desk
Islamabad: The Pakistan Army on Wednesday said it shot down four “rudimentary” drones allegedly launched by the Afghan Taliban along the Balochistan border, accusing the Kabul administration of supporting terrorist groups operating against Pakistan.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said the drones entered Pakistani airspace and were immediately detected by the country’s air defence system before being intercepted and destroyed.
According to the ISPR, Pakistan’s air defence network identified the incoming aerial platforms as soon as they crossed into Pakistani territory, and security forces neutralised all four drones using advanced countermeasures.
The military alleged that the drones were launched to provide support and protection to terrorist groups operating from areas under the control of the Afghan Taliban.
“The malicious attempts were effectively thwarted due to the swift and effective response,” the ISPR said, adding that the incident reflected the armed forces’ operational readiness and capability to respond to aerial threats.
The military further claimed that such actions by the Afghan Taliban were intended to divert the attention of the Afghan public from domestic challenges and accused the Taliban government of continuing to sponsor terrorism instead of pursuing peaceful relations with neighbouring countries.
“The Afghan Taliban should realise that their irresponsible behaviour is only adding to the hardships of the Afghan people,” the statement said.
The ISPR urged the Afghan authorities to abandon support for militant groups and adopt the principle of peaceful coexistence with neighbouring states.
Warning against further cross-border provocations, the military said any attempt to undermine Pakistan’s sovereignty or endanger its citizens would be met with a “swift, decisive and overwhelming response” under “Operation Ghazab-ul-Haq”.
“The Pakistan Armed Forces remain fully vigilant and capable of defending every inch of the motherland,” the statement added.
The latest development comes amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border militancy. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of allowing militant groups to operate from Afghan territory, an allegation the Taliban government has consistently denied.
The incident also follows a recent terrorist attack on a Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) camp in Karachi that killed three Rangers personnel. Pakistan’s Foreign Office subsequently summoned the Afghan Charge d’Affaires and lodged a formal protest, stating that Afghan nationals, including one suspect arrested alive, were involved in the attack.
Pakistan has witnessed a rise in militant attacks since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, with Islamabad repeatedly calling on Kabul to prevent the use of Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan.
