Pakistan’s military said it successfully intercepted multiple “rudimentary drones” launched by the Afghan Taliban on Friday night, preventing them from reaching civilian targets, including military installations near the capital. President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attacks, calling them a “red line” violation and warning that Pakistan would not tolerate the use of Afghan soil for operations against its civilians. The statement came amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where clashes have escalated in recent weeks.
According to military sources, debris from the downed drones caused injuries to several civilians, including two children in Quetta in southwestern Pakistan and one civilian each in Kohat near Peshawar and Rawalpindi. Security measures included the temporary closure of airspace around Islamabad as a precautionary step. Officials emphasized that the Taliban lack a fully functional air force and are relying on locally produced drones to harass border communities.
The drone attacks followed Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan overnight Thursday to Friday, which killed four civilians in Kabul and reportedly two more in border provinces. Taliban authorities condemned the strikes and vowed retaliation, prompting Islamabad to remain on high alert. President Zardari reiterated in a post on X that Pakistan will defend its civilians and that Afghan territory must not be used to launch attacks against neighbouring countries.
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Experts noted that the use of drones by the Taliban reflects both a technological improvisation and a strategy to target vulnerable areas along the border. Islamabad’s military said it remains capable of intercepting such attacks, but officials warned that the continued escalation could have broader security implications. Local residents reported heightened anxiety and disruption to daily life in border regions, with some forced to evacuate homes amid cross-border exchanges of fire.
The conflict comes on the heels of Pakistan’s recent military operation in Afghanistan targeting Islamist extremist groups it holds responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. While Islamabad maintains that its operations do not target civilians, the Taliban government has denied allowing militants to operate from Afghan territory. Both sides have blamed each other for the latest violence, further complicating already fragile relations.
According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), at least 75 civilians have been killed and 193 injured in Afghanistan since February 26 as a result of border clashes and military actions. Analysts warn that continued tit-for-tat attacks along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border risk prolonging civilian suffering and destabilising trade and daily life in the region.
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