Pakistan intercepts four drones launched from Afghanistan amid rising border tensions
Pakistan said its air defence shot down four drones that entered Balochistan from Afghanistan, while the Afghan Taliban claimed to have carried out air strikes in Pakistan's border provinces.
Pakistan's military reported that four rudimentary drones crossed the border into Balochistan and were intercepted by its air defence system on Wednesday. The statement warned that continued provocations would elicit a strong response.
The Afghan defence ministry posted on X that it had conducted "air strikes" in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, claiming the attacks targeted members of an ISIL affiliate. The Taliban's armed wing does not operate fighter jets but has used small drones in previous border incidents.
Relations between the two neighbours have deteriorated since the Taliban took power in Kabul in 2021, with repeated cross-border attacks and accusations that each side shelters hostile groups. Recent Pakistani air strikes in eastern Afghanistan earlier this week were said to have caused dozens of deaths, a claim disputed by Afghan officials who reported civilian casualties.
Both governments continue to blame each other for supporting insurgent groups, and the exchange of drone and air-strike incidents marks the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict.