Pakistan shoots down eight drones from Afghanistan near Torkham, Kohat

Pakistan's air defense shot down eight drones that entered its airspace from Afghanistan on Wednesday, security sources said.

Four drones were intercepted near the Torkham border and four near Kohat, amid escalating tensions following a failed militant infiltration attempt and cross-border fire in the Kurram sector.

How many drones did Pakistan shoot down?

Pakistan's armed forces intercepted eight drones in total on Wednesday. Four were brought down in mountainous terrain near Kohat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the remaining four were intercepted along the heights of the Torkham border sector.

Security sources said all eight were downed after entering Pakistani territory.

What was the goal of the drone incursion?

The sources said the drones were part of an attempt to target public places in Pakistan, though they gave no details of any damage or casualties.

They described the incident as further evidence of what they called the Afghan Taliban government's support for militant groups operating against Pakistan. Kabul has consistently denied providing sanctuary to such groups.

What happened in the Kurram border clash?

The alleged drone incursion followed a confrontation in Kurram, where Pakistani security forces said they thwarted an attempt by militants to cross the border from Afghanistan. The militants were identified as members of Fitna al-Khawarij, Islamabad's term for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and had reportedly tried to enter from positions in Afghanistan's Nangarhar and Paktia provinces.

After the infiltration attempt was stopped, Afghan Taliban forces opened fire on Pakistani border posts with heavy weapons and mortars, the sources said. Pakistani forces responded with artillery, targeting Afghan border posts, mortar positions and defensive positions. The response reportedly forced Afghan Taliban personnel to abandon several positions, and Pakistani forces retained control of the border area; these claims could not be independently verified.

What led to this week's escalation?

The latest incidents follow Pakistani airstrikes on militant targets in Afghanistan on Monday.

Pakistan said the strikes killed more than 28 militants in the border region, while Afghan authorities and the United Nations reported that three civilians were killed and four injured.

How has Kabul responded to Pakistan's accusations?

Pakistan has repeatedly called on the Taliban government in Kabul to prevent Afghanistan-based militants from carrying out attacks inside the country. Kabul has rejected accusations that it provides militant sanctuaries and has condemned Pakistani military action inside Afghanistan.

Security forces remain on high alert along the frontier, with Pakistani authorities saying they are prepared to respond to further infiltration attempts or cross-border attacks.