Pakistan Struck 10 Afghan Sites After Drone Incursion: Tarar
Tarar warned that any further provocative act by the Afghan Taliban would be met with a “firm and resolute response.”
Pakistan carried out precision aerial and drone strikes against 10 locations in Afghanistan after drones launched from Afghan territory entered Pakistani airspace on September 23, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Thursday.
In a statement, Tarar condemned what he described as a “deliberate and unlawful incursion into Pakistan” by drones launched from Afghan territory, calling it a “blatant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and a “grave and unacceptable act of aggression.”
Pakistan Says All Drones Neutralised
According to Tarar, Pakistan’s air defence systems detected, tracked and neutralised all the intruding platforms before they could reach any of their intended targets.
He said Pakistan, in exercise of its sovereign right to self-defence, subsequently conducted precision aerial and drone strikes against 10 locations in Afghanistan used for launching and storing the drones.
“The strikes were deliberate, precise, calibrated and proportionate and strictly limited to identified military objectives directly linked to the attempted attacks against Pakistan,” Tarar said.
Islamabad Raises Terrorism Concerns
The information minister said Pakistan had repeatedly conveyed its concerns to the Afghan Taliban regime and its interlocutors regarding what he described as the continued presence of terrorist sanctuaries and their support networks on Afghan soil.
He said that instead of dismantling these networks and taking “credible and verifiable action” against those using Afghan territory to perpetrate terrorism against Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban regime had chosen to escalate the situation through hostile drone operations.
Pakistan would “neither accept nor tolerate attacks launched from Afghan territory, whether by terrorist groups or by the Afghan Taliban regime itself,” Tarar said.
“Any violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty will be met with an immediate and decisive response,” he added.
Pakistan Calls on Afghan Taliban to Cease Hostile Activity
Tarar called on the Afghan Taliban regime to immediately cease all hostile activity against Pakistan and fulfil its international obligations by taking “effective, concrete, verifiable and sustained action” against terrorist entities operating from Afghan soil.
He said Afghan territory must not be used to launch attacks or conduct hostile operations against Pakistan.
The minister said Pakistan does not seek escalation and remains committed to regional peace, dialogue and constructive engagement.
“This commitment must not be mistaken for weakness or an unlimited tolerance of hostile actions,” he said, adding that Pakistan would defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the lives of its citizens.
Tarar warned that any further provocative act by the Afghan Taliban would be met with a “firm and resolute response.”
