Atta Tarar confirms Pakistan carried out strikes on 10 Afghan sites after drone incursion

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday condemned what it described as a deliberate drone incursion from Afghan territory and said it had carried out precision strikes on 10 locations in Afghanistan used to launch and store the drones.

In a statement posted on X, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the drone incursion on September 23 was a “blatant violation” of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called it a “grave and unacceptable act of aggression”.

Tarar said Pakistan’s air defence systems had detected, tracked and neutralised all the drones before they could reach their intended targets.

He said Pakistan then conducted “precision aerial and drone strikes” against 10 locations in Afghanistan that were allegedly being used for launching and storing the drones.

According to Tarar, the strikes were “deliberate, precise, calibrated and proportionate” and were limited to identified military objectives directly linked to the attempted attacks on Pakistan.

Pakistan warns against further attacks

Tarar said Pakistan had repeatedly raised concerns with the Afghan Taliban regime and its interlocutors over what Islamabad describes as terrorist sanctuaries and support networks operating from Afghan soil.

“Pakistan will neither accept nor tolerate attacks launched from Afghan territory, whether by terrorist groups or by the Afghan Taliban regime itself,” he said.

He warned that any further violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty would draw an “immediate and decisive response”, adding that threats or denials from the Afghan Taliban would not affect Pakistan’s right to defend its territory and citizens.

Islamabad calls for action against militants

Pakistan called on the Afghan Taliban administration to immediately halt what it described as hostile activity and take “effective, concrete, verifiable and sustained action” against militant groups operating from Afghan territory.

Tarar said Afghan soil must not be used to launch attacks or conduct hostile operations against Pakistan.

At the same time, he said Pakistan did not seek escalation and remained committed to regional peace, dialogue and constructive engagement.

“Pakistan will defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the lives of its citizens with full resolve and will take all necessary measures to protect them,” he said.