Pakistan’s air defense shot down eight drones that entered its airspace from Afghanistan on Wednesday, according to security sources. Four drones came down near the Torkham border, while the remaining four fell near Kohat. Meanwhile, tensions along the border have escalated following a failed militant infiltration attempt and cross-border fire in the Kurram sector.
Pakistan’s armed forces intercepted all eight drones on Wednesday. Mountainous terrain near Kohat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounted for four of the intercepts. The remaining four came down along the heights of the Torkham border sector. Security sources confirmed that all eight drones entered Pakistani territory before forces brought them down.
According to the sources, the drones aimed to target public places inside Pakistan. However, they gave no details regarding any damage or casualties. They described the incident as further evidence of what they called the Afghan Taliban government’s support for militant groups operating against Pakistan. Still, Kabul has consistently denied providing sanctuary to such groups.
This alleged drone incursion followed a confrontation in Kurram. There, Pakistani security forces said they thwarted an attempt by militants to cross the border from Afghanistan. Officials identified the militants as members of Fitna al-Khawarij, Islamabad’s term for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The group had reportedly tried to enter from positions in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Paktia provinces.
After Pakistani forces stopped the infiltration attempt, Afghan Taliban forces opened fire on Pakistani border posts with heavy weapons and mortars, the sources said. Pakistani forces responded with artillery, targeting Afghan border posts, mortar positions and defensive positions. This response reportedly forced Afghan Taliban personnel to abandon several positions. As a result, Pakistani forces retained control of the border area, though these claims could not be independently verified.
The latest incidents follow Pakistani airstrikes on militant targets in Afghanistan on Monday. Pakistan said the strikes killed more than 28 militants in the border region. Afghan authorities and the United Nations, however, reported that three civilians died and four suffered injuries.
Pakistan has repeatedly called on the Taliban government in Kabul to prevent Afghanistan-based militants from carrying out attacks inside the country. Kabul has rejected these accusations and has condemned Pakistani military action inside Afghanistan. Therefore, tensions along the frontier remain unresolved. Finally, Pakistani authorities say security forces remain on high alert and are prepared to respond to further infiltration attempts or cross-border attacks.
