Pakistan Claims Air and Drone Strikes in Afghanistan After Foiled Drone Incursion
Islamabad :Pakistan has said it carried out air and drone strikes against 10 sites in Afghanistan following the reported interception of drones allegedly entering Pakistani territory from Afghan soil on September 23.
According to the Pakistani position, the country’s air defence systems detected and destroyed all the incoming drones before they could reach their intended targets. Officials described the reported incursion as a serious violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on X that the alleged drone infiltration from Afghan territory was a deliberate and unlawful act that Pakistan would not accept.
Pakistani authorities said four of the eight drones intercepted on September 23 were brought down near Torkham, while another four were destroyed in mountainous areas adjoining Kohat.
Pakistan said the subsequent strikes in Afghanistan targeted locations allegedly used to launch and store drones. Officials described the strikes as deliberate, precise and proportionate, claiming they were restricted to military targets directly linked to the reported drone attacks against Pakistan.
Islamabad has also reiterated its longstanding concerns over the presence of militant sanctuaries and support networks in Afghanistan. Pakistani authorities said the Afghan Taliban government and its interlocutors had repeatedly been informed of these concerns, but accused them of failing to take what Pakistan considers verifiable action against such networks.
The latest development follows Pakistan’s announcement two days earlier of operations against militant positions in border areas of Afghanistan. Pakistani officials said 28 militants were killed during those operations.
Pakistan has warned that attacks originating from Afghan territory will not be tolerated and said violations of its sovereignty would receive an immediate response. Islamabad has also urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to stop hostile activities against Pakistan and take effective, concrete and sustained action against militant groups operating from Afghan soil.
At the same time, Pakistan has said it does not seek escalation in the region and remains committed to regional peace, dialogue and constructive engagement. It has, however, maintained that these objectives should not be interpreted as unlimited tolerance of attacks or other hostile actions.
The latest Pakistani statement comes amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, with Islamabad emphasizing that protecting its territorial integrity and civilian population remains a central security priority.
Table of Contents
