Pakistan intercepts four drones from Afghanistan as Afghan forces strike border areas

Pakistan's military said on Wednesday that Afghan Taliban forces launched four rudimentary drones across the border into Balochistan province. The military added that its air defence network detected and intercepted the drones, warning that continued provocation would bring a response that would cost the Afghan Taliban heavily.

Afghan strikes reported The Afghan defence ministry posted on X that it had carried out air strikes in Balochistan and northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, stating the strikes caused casualties among members of an ISIL affiliate. The Taliban military lacks fighter jets and a fully functional air force but has used small drones in prior border clashes with Pakistan.

Background to the clashes Pakistan-Afghanistan relations have been tense since the Taliban took power in Kabul in 2021. Hundreds of people have been killed in cross-border fighting since February, when Afghanistan launched retaliatory strikes after Pakistan carried out air attacks inside Afghan territory.

After a deadly weekend attack in Karachi, Pakistan conducted strikes in eastern Afghanistan that killed dozens; Islamabad said it targeted fighters while Afghan officials reported at least 36 civilian casualties. The conflict centres on Islamabad's accusations that the Afghan Taliban shelters armed groups, particularly the Pakistan Taliban, behind attacks in Pakistan.

Afghan officials deny the allegations and say Pakistan harbours hostile groups and does not respect Afghan sovereignty.