Pakistan Intercepts Four Drones as Afghanistan Claims Cross-Border Air Strikes

Pakistan says it has intercepted four drones allegedly launched from Afghanistan into its southwestern province of Balochistan, marking another escalation in tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

According to Pakistan's military, the drones were detected and neutralised by the country's air defence system shortly after crossing the border. The military warned that any further provocations by Afghanistan's Taliban government would receive a "strong and costly response."

Meanwhile, Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence announced that it had carried out what it described as "air strikes" inside Pakistan's Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. The Taliban government claimed the attacks targeted fighters linked to the ISIL (ISIS) affiliate operating in the region and resulted in casualties.

The latest developments come days after Pakistan launched air strikes in eastern Afghanistan following a deadly attack in Karachi. Islamabad said those strikes targeted militant groups, while Afghan authorities claimed at least 36 civilians were killed.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of providing safe haven to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has carried out numerous attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations and, in turn, accuses Pakistan of supporting hostile groups and violating Afghanistan's sovereignty.

The recent exchange of military actions raises concerns about further instability along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where months of violence have already claimed hundreds of lives.

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