Pakistan Strikes 10 Locations in Afghanistan in Response to Drone Attacks

Pakistan claims to have carried out air and drone strikes on 10 locations in Afghanistan in response to an attempted drone attack from Afghan territory. Islamabad alleges that the targeted sites were used to launch and store drones intended for attacks inside Pakistan.

A day earlier, Pakistani security sources said eight drones attempting to enter Pakistani airspace from Afghanistan had been shot down. The latest strikes come amid growing tensions between the two neighboring countries.

The Pakistani air and drone strikes on several locations in Afghanistan were reported early Thursday.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said in a post on X that Pakistan had exercised its sovereign right to self-defense and carried out precise air and drone strikes on 10 locations in Afghanistan.

According to Islamabad, the targets included facilities used to launch and store drones for attacks against Pakistan.

A day earlier, Pakistani security sources had reported that eight drones had attempted to enter Pakistani airspace from Afghanistan.

Pakistan claims its air defense systems detected and intercepted all eight drones before they could reach their intended targets. Four were reportedly shot down near the Torkham border area, while the remaining four were brought down in mountainous areas near Kohat.

The claims could not be independently verified immediately.

According to Tarar, the Pakistani strikes were planned, precise, controlled and proportionate. He said the attacks were limited to identified military facilities directly linked to the attempted drone attacks against Pakistan.

He described the alleged drone attack from Afghan territory as a clear violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Pakistan has long accused militant groups of maintaining bases and support networks inside Afghanistan. Islamabad claims that instead of taking effective and verifiable action against those networks, the Afghan Taliban government has further escalated tensions by allowing hostile drone operations against Pakistan.

Afghanistan, however, has opposed Pakistan’s cross-border military operations and has repeatedly described such actions as violations of Afghan sovereignty.

Tensions had already intensified following a Pakistani airstrike on September 21. Pakistan claimed that 28 militants were killed in the strike in eastern Afghanistan. Afghan authorities and the United Nations, however, reported that three civilians were killed.

The latest confrontation over drones has further heightened tensions along the border.

Pakistan’s information minister has warned that Islamabad will not tolerate attacks against Pakistan by militant groups operating from Afghan territory or by the Afghan Taliban government itself.

He said Pakistan would respond immediately and firmly to any violation of its sovereignty.

At the same time, Pakistan says it does not want to escalate regional tensions and remains committed to dialogue and constructive relations.

But military activity along the border is increasing.

Pakistan accuses militants of using Afghan territory to plan attacks against Pakistan, while Kabul continues to oppose Pakistan’s military operations inside Afghanistan.

Ashik/M.