Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Escalation
Pakistan Launches Air and Drone Strikes in Afghanistan Following Border Incursions
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Pakistan linked the escalation to a major attack at the old Police Lines in Kohat that killed 23 people and injured about 100 others; an overnight clearance operation reportedly killed eight militants.
2
Pakistan’s information ministry said its earlier retaliatory airstrikes had eliminated more than 28 militants in the border region and targeted hideouts and safe houses belonging to terrorist organizations.
3
Of the eight drones reportedly intercepted, four were downed near the Torkham border and four near Kohat; security sources said two of the Kohat-area drones were neutralized using “soft-kill” methods about seven kilometers from the city.
4
Pakistan said similar incidents had occurred earlier in 2026: four rudimentary drones were shot down after crossing into Balochistan in July, while two others were downed in June in Qila Abdullah and Chagai districts.
5
The reported drone interceptions came amid a broader resurgence in militant violence in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021, according to Pakistani reporting.
Pakistan launched precision air and drone strikes on 10 sites in Afghanistan on September 23-24 after claiming eight drones entered its airspace from Afghan territory. The Frontier Post reported that Federal Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed the strikes targeted drone launch and storage facilities, calling them a limited act of self-defense. The escalation follows a deadly September 18 suicide attack at Kohat's Old Police Lines that killed 23 people and injured over 100 others.
Pakistan's military said it shot down all eight drones—four near Torkham border and four near Kohat—with two neutralized using electronic "soft-kill" methods seven kilometers from the city. News18 reported that the Taliban government in Kabul denied launching any attacks or operating drones into Pakistan, and Afghanistan had not immediately responded to the strikes. The incidents mark a sharp escalation in tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The Kohat Attack That Triggered Retaliation
On September 18, militants struck the Old Police Lines complex in Kohat, Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. A 22-hour siege killed 23 to 31 people, including eight attackers, and wounded over 100. Pakistani security forces launched a clearance operation that eliminated nine more militants in Kohat and Hangu over the following days. The Frontier Post reported this attack prompted Pakistan's initial response.
Pakistan's Pattern of Drone Interceptions From Afghanistan
The September 23 incident is not isolated. News9Live documented that Pakistan has been intercepting crude drones from Afghanistan for months. In June, two drones were shot down in Qila Abdullah and Chagai districts of Balochistan. In July, four more rudimentary drones crossed into Balochistan and were neutralized. The escalating pattern reflects broader militant resurgence along the border since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
Pakistan Claims Big Kill Count in Earlier Strikes
Before the latest retaliation, Pakistan struck militant hideouts on September 21 targeting Kunar, Paktika, and Paktya provinces in Afghanistan. 24NewsHD reported the Information Ministry claimed these strikes eliminated more than 28 militants and destroyed hideouts belonging to terrorist organizations. Pakistan justified the operation under Article 51 of the UN Charter, invoking its right to self-defense against cross-border threats and infiltration attempts.
Afghanistan Denies Role, Warns of Response
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid rejected Pakistan's claims that Afghan forces launched drones or attacks. Bhaskar English reported the Taliban condemned Pakistan's airstrikes as unprovoked aggression and warned of an "appropriate response." Kabul has not formally responded to the September 23-24 strikes. The dispute highlights deep mistrust: Pakistan accuses the Taliban of harboring banned militant groups like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, while Afghanistan rejects cross-border operations as violations of sovereignty.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
50
Articles
169
Reach
219
A
AnonymousAuthor
