Pakistan Army Intercepts Four Drones Launched from Afghanistan

The Pakistan Army stated on Wednesday that it intercepted four drones launched from Afghanistan the previous day, marking the latest incident in months of ongoing conflict between the neighboring countries.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan vowed to respond to Pakistan’s recent deadly airstrikes targeting eastern Afghanistan, while the Afghan Ministry of Defense issued a statement last night confirming it conducted air operations against militants in Pakistani border provinces.

According to the Pakistan Army, Afghan Taliban forces launched "four rudimentary drones across the border in Balochistan province on Tuesday," which were immediately detected by Pakistan’s air defense network.

The army added that if the Afghan Taliban continue to provoke Pakistan, they will receive a suitable response that will come at a high cost.

Meanwhile, the Afghan Ministry of Defense posted on X that it carried out "air raids" in Balochistan and northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, reporting casualties among ISIS militants as a result of these operations.

The Taliban’s military forces lack a fully operational air force but have employed small drones primarily targeting areas near the Pakistan border.

Pakistan, which denies ISIS operates within its territory, did not report any casualties from the drone incidents and accused the Afghan government of "misleading" its people, stating that the drone attacks were "effectively thwarted."

This event represents the latest escalation in the conflict between the two neighbors, whose relations have been tense since 2021 when the Taliban took power in Kabul following a war that erupted in February.

Following a deadly attack in Karachi over the weekend, Pakistani airstrikes killed dozens in eastern Afghanistan. Islamabad claimed on Monday that militants were targeted, while the Afghan government reported civilian casualties.

The United Nations confirmed that the strikes resulted in the deaths of 28 civilians and injuries to dozens more. Pakistan did not comment on civilian casualties but reported that 29 militants were killed in the airstrikes and ground operations.

The months-long conflict, which has claimed hundreds of lives, centers on Islamabad’s accusations that the Taliban government harbors militants responsible for increased attacks, particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, which has waged a violent campaign against Pakistan for years.

Afghan officials deny these allegations and assert that Pakistan shelters hostile groups and violates Afghanistan’s sovereignty.