Pakistan foils drones as Afghanistan claims cross-border strikes

Pakistan's security forces successfully intercepted multiple small drone launch attempts by outlawed militant groups in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced Friday. The incidents occurred in Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera districts, where anti-drone systems brought down all unmanned aircraft without causing any casualties, Tarar stated on social media.

Accusations Against Afghan Regime

Tarar explicitly blamed the Afghan Taliban administration for the attempted drone infiltrations, stating these incidents "have again exposed direct linkages between Afghan Taliban regime and terrorism in Pakistan." Pakistan designates the militant groups involved as Fitna al Khawarij, its term for the Pakistani Taliban. The allegations come amid rapidly deteriorating relations between the neighboring countries following deadly border clashes.

Afghanistan's Strike Claims

The Afghan Defense Ministry separately claimed Friday that it had conducted "coordinated airstrikes" targeting multiple Pakistani military positions, including a camp near Faizabad in Islamabad, a base in Nowshera, and locations in Jamrud and Abbottabad around 11 am local time. The announcement follows Kabul's declaration late Thursday that it had launched "retaliatory operations" along the border in response to Pakistani airstrikes last Sunday. At least 14 people have died in the recent cross-border violence, including both civilians and soldiers, as tensions continue to simmer along the volatile frontier.