ISLAMABAD: Pakistan carried out precision air and drone strikes on 10 locations in Afghanistan used to launch and store drones, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Thursday, describing the action as a response to a drone incursion from Afghan territory a day earlier.
Tarar said the strikes were conducted under Pakistan’s right to self-defence and targeted sites directly linked to the attempted attacks against the country.
In a statement posted on X, the minister said the operation was “deliberate, precise, calibrated and proportionate”, stressing that it was confined to identified military objectives.
He condemned Wednesday’s drone incursion as a “deliberate and unlawful” violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, describing the attack as a serious act of aggression.
Tarar said Pakistan had repeatedly raised concerns with the Afghan Taliban over the presence of terrorist sanctuaries and militant elements operating from Afghan soil. Instead of taking action against such networks, he alleged, the Afghan authorities had escalated tensions by allowing hostile drone operations against Pakistan.
According to the minister, Pakistan’s air defence systems detected and tracked all the drones that entered its airspace on Wednesday and neutralised them before they could reach their intended targets.
He warned that Pakistan would not tolerate attacks originating from Afghan territory, whether carried out by militant groups or by the Afghan Taliban authorities themselves.
“Pakistan’s sovereignty cannot be violated with impunity,” Tarar said, adding that any such action would draw an immediate response.
The minister also rejected what he described as possible attempts by the Afghan Taliban to deny or shift responsibility for the attacks, saying such statements would not affect Pakistan’s right to protect its territory, citizens and national security.
Tarar urged the Afghan Taliban to immediately stop hostile activities and fulfil their international obligations by taking “effective, concrete, verifiable and sustained action” against terrorist organisations operating from Afghan soil.
He said Pakistan remained committed to regional peace, dialogue and constructive engagement and did not seek escalation, but cautioned that its restraint should not be interpreted as weakness.
“Any further provocative act by the Afghan Taliban will be responded with a firm and resolute response,” the minister said, reiterating Pakistan’s determination to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the lives of its citizens.
The post Pakistan strikes 10 Afghan sites used for drone operations: Tarar appeared first on Karachi News.