Pakistan’s armed forces have brought down eight drones after they entered Pakistani airspace from Afghanistan, according to security sources. Four of the drones were intercepted in areas near the Torkham border, while the remaining four were shot down in mountainous areas around Kohat. Security sources said Pakistan’s air defence systems detected the drones and intercepted them before they could reach their reported targets. The wreckage of the downed drones was also being recovered by authorities.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. According to security sources, the drones were detected by air defence systems deployed along the Pak-Afghan border, which remain operational around the clock. The sources described the incident as an attempted intrusion into Pakistani airspace. The reported drone activity follows an infiltration attempt in the Kurram sector, where Pakistani security forces reportedly engaged militants crossing from Afghanistan.
Security sources further said the infiltration attempt was carried out from positions in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Paktia provinces. Following the failed attempt, Afghan forces reportedly opened fire on Pakistani border posts using mortars and other weapons. Pakistani forces responded by targeting Afghan border positions and defensive locations. These claims were reported by Pakistani security sources and have not been independently verified.
The latest drone incident follows Pakistan’s recent military action in the border region with Afghanistan. On September 21, Pakistan said it had conducted intelligence-based operations and airstrikes against militant hideouts and training facilities in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the border region. Pakistan’s Information Ministry said the strikes targeted facilities linked to militant organisations and reported that more than 28 militants were killed. The latest developments add to a series of security incidents along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in recent months.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.