Pakistan’s security forces on Friday intercepted rudimentary drones launched by the Afghan Taliban, preventing them from reaching their intended targets, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

“The drones were intercepted through soft and hard kills and did not reach their intended targets,” the military’s media wing said early on Saturday.

However, the debris from these drones resulted in injuries to two children in Quetta and a civilian each in Kohat and Rawalpindi, it added.

The military said that these attacks were aimed at inducing fear in the public and “remind us of the terrorist mindset which drives the Afghan Taliban”.

“On one hand, the Afghan Taliban project victimhood to garner global sympathy, while on the other hand, they actively target civilians through their terrorist proxies and their drones.”

The military emphasised its resolve, saying, “Pakistan’s people and its Armed Forces are absolutely clear about the true nature and intentions of the terrorist militia-for-hire that rules Afghanistan.”

The ISPR also reiterates that Operation Ghazab lil-Haq will continue until the Afghan Taliban address Pakistan’s core concerns regarding terrorism emanating from Afghan soil.

“The Armed Forces stand steadfast in the fight against terrorism and its manifestations, like the drone attacks by the Afghan Taliban.

“We shall keep defending the people of Pakistan against terrorists and their facilitators and shall not flinch in the face of such provocations by the Afghan Taliban,” the statement concluded.

Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of Information, in a post on X, said, “The drones were neutralised using electronic countermeasures. No military or other infrastructure was hit, and only minor damage occurred from the debris.”

The ministry said: “The Taliban regime’s claim includes no verifiable evidence, as always. However, it fully exposes its established role as master proxy of terrorism harbouring and supporting multiple terrorist organisations such as Indian proxies Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan.”

It further stated: “The Taliban regime’s official accounts, including this so-called Ministry of Defence account, are known to regularly proliferate fake news and propaganda, including recent frivolous claims of shooting down Pakistan Air Force aircraft and capturing pilots which they unashamedly later deleted.”

Brief operational adjustment

The Pakistan Airports Authority earlier said in a now-deleted post on X that flight operations at Islamabad International Airport had seen a “brief operational adjustment”.

The post came after several media outlets reported the airport had been closed.

In a later statement, the authority said reports of Islamabad’s airspace being shut were “baseless”.

“Flight operations at Islamabad International Airport are continuing without interruption, and all flights are operating according to schedule,” it said.

“The public is advised not to pay attention to unverified or misleading reports and to rely on official sources of PAA for authentic information.”

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq

Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has seen an increase in cross-border terrorist activity, particularly in the provinces of KP and Balochistan, which share a border with Afghanistan.

Amid the rising terror incidents, Pakistan has launched “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq” during which over 650 Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed in Pakistan’s strikes along the border and within the neighbouring country.

More than 800 Afghan Taliban fighters have been injured, whereas 249 checkposts have been destroyed, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed on Friday.

Before the operation, Pakistan had also struck seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Fitna al Khawarij (FAK), its affiliates and the Daesh-Khorasan along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in response to recent suicide attacks.

The airstrikes were carried out in Nangarhar, Paktika and Khost provinces of Afghanistan, the security sources said, adding that more than 80 militants were killed in the airstrikes.

The two countries, back in October 2025, were also engaged in border clashes after the Afghan Taliban and militants launched unprovoked attacks against Pakistan’s border posts.

The resulting clashes led to the killing of over 200 Taliban and affiliated militants, while 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred defending the motherland.

However, despite many rounds of talks, both countries failed to reach an agreement due to the Afghan Taliban regime’s reluctance to take action against terrorist outfits.