Islamabad, September 24: Pakistan carried out air and drone strikes on 10 locations in Afghanistan in response to what it said were attempted drone attacks launched from Afghan territory a day earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Thursday.
Tarar said the targets were locations allegedly used to launch and store drones involved in the attempted attacks against Pakistan. He described the strikes as “deliberate, precise, calibrated and proportionate,” and said they were limited to identified military objectives.
According to the minister, Pakistan’s air defence systems detected, tracked and neutralised the drones before they could reach their intended targets. Pakistani security sources said eight drones had been intercepted after entering the country’s airspace from Afghanistan.
Tarar said Pakistan considered the drone incursions a violation of its sovereignty and invoked what he described as its right to self-defence. He warned that Islamabad would respond to further attacks originating from Afghan territory.
The minister also accused the Afghan Taliban authorities of failing to take effective action against militant networks operating from Afghan soil. Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns with Kabul over alleged militant sanctuaries and cross-border attacks.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated amid continued accusations over militant activity along the border. Islamabad alleges that groups including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operate from Afghan territory, while Afghan authorities have rejected accusations that they harbour anti-Pakistan militants.
Tarar said Pakistan does not seek escalation and remains committed to regional peace, dialogue and constructive engagement, but added that Islamabad would take measures it considers necessary to protect its territory and citizens.
The latest strikes come amid a broader escalation in tensions between the two countries, following earlier Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan and a series of cross-border security incidents.
