Pakistan military says it downed four drones from Afghanistan

Pakistan's military said on July 1 it shot down four drones that crossed from Afghanistan into Balochistan. The military stated the drones were detected immediately after crossing the border and were neutralized through countermeasures. Afghanistan's defense ministry said separately that its air force struck sites in Balochistan's Pishin district and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The ministry described the targets as centers used to plan attacks inside Afghanistan and stated no civilians were harmed. Neither side's account could be independently verified.

Recent border incidents On June 27, gunmen attacked a paramilitary compound in Karachi, killing three personnel. A splinter faction of the Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility, and an Afghan national was identified among those captured. Pakistan responded on June 29 with strikes in Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces in Afghanistan, stating 25 fighters were killed.

Afghan authorities said 36 civilians died in those strikes.

Pattern since October 2025 The drone exchange follows a series of strikes that began after an October 2025 ceasefire collapsed. Pakistani officials have described their approach as controlled escalation, responding to attacks from non-state groups while limiting direct retaliation against the Afghan government.

Mediation efforts by Qatar, Turkey, and China produced temporary reductions in strikes, but tensions resumed in June.