Afghan drones intercepted by Pakistan; several civilians injured: ISPR

Pakistan’s military said it intercepted several drones allegedly sent by the Afghan Taliban in what it described as an attempt to intimidate the Pakistani public.

In a statement, the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said the drones were neutralised using both “soft kill and hard kill” methods before they could reach their intended targets.

According to the statement, debris from the intercepted drones injured four civilians in different cities. Two children were wounded in Quetta, while one civilian each was injured in Kohat and Rawalpindi.

The ISPR said the drones had been dispatched by the Afghan Taliban but failed to hit their targets after being intercepted.

‘Attempt to spread fear’

The military described the incident as an attempt to spread fear among the population.

“These drone attacks were aimed at creating panic among the public and serve as a reminder of the terrorist mindset of the Afghan Taliban,” the statement said.

It added that the group projects a narrative of victimhood while simultaneously targeting civilians.

“The people of Pakistan and its armed forces are fully aware of the true intentions of the Afghan Taliban,” the military said.

Operations to continue

The ISPR said counterterrorism operations would continue until militancy is eliminated.

It added that the armed forces would keep taking action against militants and their facilitators as part of the ongoing operation.

Pakistan will not back down in the face of provocations by the Afghan Taliban, the statement said, adding that the armed forces remain committed to safeguarding the country’s security.