Pakistan carried out precision aerial and drone strikes on 10 locations in Afghanistan following an attempted cross-border drone incursion, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Thursday. Pakistani authorities said the targeted sites were being used to launch and store drones.
Tarar said the strikes were conducted in what Pakistan described as an exercise of its right to self-defence. According to the minister, the operation was limited to identified military targets allegedly linked to the attempted attacks on Pakistan.
He said Pakistan’s air defence systems detected, tracked and neutralised all the drones that entered Pakistani airspace on Wednesday before they could reach their intended targets. Security sources said eight drones launched from Afghanistan were shot down near the Torkham border and Kohat.
Tarar described the drone incursion as a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said Islamabad had repeatedly raised concerns with the Afghan Taliban over the presence of terrorist networks and alleged sanctuaries on Afghan soil.
The minister called on the Afghan Taliban to prevent the use of Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan and take concrete and verifiable action against terrorist groups operating from the country.
At the same time, Tarar said Pakistan remained committed to regional peace, dialogue and constructive engagement, while warning that further hostile actions would draw a firm response.
The latest strikes come amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul following a series of cross-border security incidents. Pakistan has repeatedly accused militant groups operating from Afghanistan of carrying out attacks inside Pakistan, while the Afghan Taliban has rejected such allegations.
Pakistan had also conducted airstrikes against alleged militant hideouts in Afghanistan on September 21. Pakistani authorities said 28 militants were killed, while Afghan officials and the United Nations reported civilian casualties in the strikes.
The escalating tensions have raised concerns over further cross-border violence and complicated ongoing efforts by regional countries to facilitate dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
