Pakistan shoots down four Afghan drones, warns befitting response ahead

Pakistan’s armed forces shot down four drones that crossed into Balochistan from Afghanistan and warned that any future provocations would be met with a befitting response, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the military’s media wing said the drones entered Pakistani airspace from Afghanistan and were immediately detected by the country’s air defence network. Security forces responded swiftly and successfully destroyed all four aerial platforms using advanced countermeasures before they could pose any threat.

The ISPR said, "The Afghan Taliban regime launched four rudimentary drones across the border in Balochistan as part of their patronisation and support of terrorist outfits operating from inside their controlled territories. 

The hostile aerial platforms were immediately picked up by Pakistan’s robust air defence network. Demonstrating high operational readiness, security forces successfully neutralised all four incoming drones using sophisticated countermeasures. Due to the swift and effective response, the malicious attempts were effectively thwarted. 

Such gimmicks of Afghan Taliban regime are aimed at misleading the Afghan population suffering under their oppressive regime. The Afghan Taliban should realise that their irresponsible behaviour is only adding to the hardships of the Afghan people. Instead of trying to sedate their population through such antics and hollow rhetoric, they should eschew sponsorship of terrorism and adhere to the principle of peaceful coexistence. However, if the Afghan Taliban continue to provoke Pakistan, they would receive a befitting response which would cost them heavily.

The Pakistan Armed Forces remain fully vigilant and capable of defending every inch of the motherland. Any misadventures or cross-border provocations threatening the sovereignty of Pakistan and endangering our people will continue to be met with swift, decisive, and overwhelming responses under Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq."

AFP reported on Wednesday that Pakistan's military said on Wednesday it had intercepted four drones sent from Afghanistan the previous day, the latest incident in months of conflict between the two neighbours.

The Taliban government had vowed a response to deadly Pakistani airstrikes on eastern Afghanistan this week and the Afghan defence ministry said in a statement overnight it had carried out aerial operations targeting militants in Pakistani border provinces.

Pakistan's military said Afghan Taliban forces on Tuesday had "launched four rudimentary drones across the border in Balochistan... the hostile aerial platforms were immediately picked up by Pakistan's robust air defence network".

"If the Afghan Taliban continue to provoke Pakistan, they would receive a befitting response which would cost them heavily," it added.

The Afghan defence ministry posted on X that it had carried out "airstrikes" in Balochistan and northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, that it said caused casualties among Islamic State (IS) group members.

The Taliban military forces lack a fully functional air force but have used small drones, targeting areas primarily in the border regions of Pakistan, experts say.

Pakistan, which denies its territory is used by IS, did not mention any casualties and accused the Afghan government of "misleading" its people, saying the drone attacks were "effectively thwarted".

The regional IS branch, Islamic State-Khorasan, has claimed responsibility for attacks in Afghanistan in recent years that have killed civilians.

The incident is the latest flare-up of conflict between the neighbours whose relationship has been fraught since 2021, when the Taliban government took power in Kabul, and follow a war that erupted in February.

After a deadly weekend attack in Karachi, Pakistani airstrikes killed dozens of people in eastern Afghanistan, with Islamabad saying on Monday it targeted militants but the Afghan government reporting civilian casualties.

The United Nations confirmed the strikes killed 28 civilians and wounded dozens more. Pakistan has not commented on civilian casualties and said 29 militants were killed in the strikes and ground operations.

The months of conflict that has killed hundreds has centred around Islamabad's accusations that the Taliban government shelters militants behind a surge in attacks, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which has waged a violent campaign against Pakistan for years.

Afghan officials deny those assertions and counter that Pakistan harbours hostile groups and does not respect its sovereignty.