Pakistan Says Eight Afghan Drones Shot Down
According to the sources, four drones were shot down in areas adjacent to the Torkham border, while another four were downed in mountainous border regions near Kohat.
Pakistan’s security forces shot down eight drones that allegedly entered Pakistani airspace from Afghanistan on Wednesday, while nine terrorists were killed in a separate counterterrorism operation in Balochistan, according to security sources.
Security sources said eight drones belonging to the Afghan Taliban regime entered Pakistani airspace on Wednesday morning but were intercepted and destroyed by the Pakistan Armed Forces’ air defence system.
According to the sources, four drones were shot down in areas adjacent to the Torkham border, while another four were downed in mountainous border regions near Kohat.
Pakistan Says Drone Incursion Thwarted
Security sources said the Pakistan Armed Forces, particularly the Pakistan Air Force, thwarted what they described as an attempt by the Afghan Taliban regime to target public areas.
The sources described the drone incursion as further evidence of what Pakistan alleges is direct support and patronage of terrorist groups by the Afghan Taliban authorities.
The latest incident comes amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Security sources said Pakistani forces had earlier destroyed several Afghan Taliban outposts and hideouts in the Kurram sector in response to what they described as unprovoked firing.
There was no immediate comment from Afghan Taliban authorities on the latest Pakistani claims regarding the drones.
Nine Terrorists Killed in Mastung Operation
Meanwhile, security forces are carrying out operations in Balochistan under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-3, with nine terrorists killed during an operation in the Kanak Valley area of Mastung, according to security sources.
The sources said terrorists belonging to what the Pakistani authorities designate as ‘Fitna-ul-Khawarij’ attempted to attack a security post in Kanak Valley.
‘Fitna-ul-Khawarij’ is the term used by Pakistani authorities for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliated terrorists.
Security forces responded to the attack and killed two terrorists during the initial exchange of fire, the sources said.
The forces subsequently pursued the fleeing terrorists and killed another seven, taking the total number of terrorists killed in the operation to nine.
Weapons and Ammunition Recovered
According to security sources, a large quantity of weapons and ammunition, along with three motorcycles, was recovered from the killed terrorists.
One security forces soldier was injured during the intense exchange of fire and was shifted to hospital for treatment.
Security sources said counterterrorism operations in Balochistan would continue.