Rawalpindi: Pakistan’s security forces successfully intercepted several rudimentary drones launched by the Afghan Taliban on Friday, preventing them from reaching their intended targets, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The military’s media wing said early Saturday that the drones were neutralised using a combination of “soft and hard kill” methods, ensuring that none of them were able to strike their targets inside Pakistan.
The operation was conducted through advanced electronic countermeasures and defensive actions by Pakistani security forces.
Despite the successful interception, debris from the destroyed drones caused injuries to civilians in several locations.
According to the ISPR statement, two children were injured in Quetta, while one civilian each was injured in Kohat and Rawalpindi due to falling drone fragments.
Authorities said the injuries occurred as the intercepted drones broke apart mid-air and debris landed in populated areas.
Pakistan’s military strongly condemned the attempted attacks and described them as deliberate acts aimed at creating fear among the civilian population.
The statement noted that such actions reflect what it called the “terrorist mindset” of the Afghan Taliban.
“On one hand, the Afghan Taliban project victimhood to garner global sympathy, while on the other hand, they actively target civilians through their terrorist proxies and their drones,” the ISPR said in its statement.
The military emphasised that Pakistan’s people and armed forces remain fully aware of what it described as the “true nature and intentions” of the militant groups operating from Afghan territory.
According to the statement, the militia ruling Afghanistan continues to allow or facilitate activities that threaten Pakistan’s security.
Pakistan also reiterated its commitment to continuing Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, a military campaign aimed at countering terrorist threats emanating from across the Afghan border.
The ISPR stressed that the operation would continue until the Afghan Taliban address Pakistan’s core concerns regarding terrorism originating from Afghan soil.
“The Armed Forces stand steadfast in the fight against terrorism and its manifestations, like the drone attacks by the Afghan Taliban,” the statement said. “We shall keep defending the people of Pakistan against terrorists and their facilitators and shall not flinch in the face of such provocations by the Afghan Taliban.”
Earlier on Friday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information also confirmed the incident in a post on the social media platform X, stating that the drones were neutralised using electronic countermeasures before they could reach any strategic locations.
According to the ministry, no military installations or critical infrastructure were hit during the incident, and only minor damage occurred due to the falling debris.
The attempted drone intrusion marks another escalation in tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, as Islamabad continues to raise concerns over militant activity and cross-border attacks originating from Afghan territory.
Security officials say Pakistan’s defence systems remain on high alert to counter any further aerial threats, including drone incursions, and to protect both civilian and military targets across the country.