Pakistan says it struck 10 sites in Afghanistan after alleged drone incursion

Pakistan said Thursday that it carried out air and drone strikes against 10 locations in Afghanistan after accusing the Taliban of launching drones into Pakistani territory, escalating tensions after several days of cross-border attacks and clashes.

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said drones launched from Afghan territory entered Pakistan on Wednesday, describing the incident as a “deliberate and unlawful incursion” and a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Tarar said Pakistan’s air defense systems detected, tracked and intercepted all of the drones before they reached their intended targets.

“In exercise of its sovereign right to self-defence, Pakistan conducted precision aerial and drone strikes against 10 locations in Afghanistan used for launching and storing these drones,” Tarar said.

He described the strikes as “deliberate, precise, calibrated and proportionate” and said they were limited to military targets directly linked to the alleged drone attacks.

Pakistan’s claims about the origin and intended targets of the drones could not immediately be independently verified.

Local sources and a Taliban official, meanwhile, told Amu TV that Pakistani strikes hit parts of Khost, Kandahar and Paktia provinces early Thursday.

Mustaghfir Gurbaz, spokesman for the Taliban governor in Khost, said areas in Gurbuz, Ismail Khel and Mandozai districts, as well as areas near the provincial capital, were struck at about 3:30 a.m. He said there were no casualties.

Local sources also confirmed strikes in parts of District 9 in Kandahar city.

In Paktia, sources told Amu TV that part of the Taliban’s 203rd Mansoori Corps compound was targeted. They said there were no facilities at the location that was struck.

Tarar accused the Taliban of failing to dismantle militant groups that Pakistan says operate from Afghanistan’s territory. He called on Taliban authorities to end what he described as hostile activity against Pakistan and take “effective, concrete, verifiable and sustained action” against militant groups.

The latest strikes followed Pakistani airstrikes Monday on parts of Kunar and Paktika provinces. UNAMA said an apparent airstrike in Kunar killed three civilians — a man, a woman and a girl from the same family — and wounded four others.

Pakistan said Monday’s operation targeted militant camps and hideouts and claimed that 28 militants and several suicide bombers were killed.

On Tuesday evening, Taliban forces and Pakistani troops exchanged fire for nearly five hours along the border in Paktia’s Zazi Aryub district, four local sources told Amu TV.

The sources said several homes were damaged and some residents fled the area. It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties.

Pakistan and the Taliban have repeatedly traded accusations over militant activity. Islamabad says groups including the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, operate from sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Taliban authorities have denied allowing Afghanistan’s territory to be used against other countries.

“Pakistan does not seek escalation and remains committed to regional peace, dialogue and constructive engagement,” Tarar said, while warning that further action by the Taliban would draw a “firm and resolute response.”