ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military said Afghan Taliban launched rudimentary drones toward Pakistani cities, injuring civilians after debris from intercepted devices fell in multiple locations, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The military’s media wing said the incident occurred on March 13 when drones were launched toward Pakistani territory but were intercepted before reaching their intended targets.
“On 13 March 2026, the Afghan Taliban launched a few rudimentary drones to harass the brave people of Pakistan,” the ISPR said.
The military said Pakistani forces neutralized the drones through a combination of electronic and kinetic countermeasures.
“The drones were intercepted through soft and hard kills and did not reach their intended targets,” the statement said.
However, debris from the destroyed drones caused injuries to civilians in several locations.
“The debris from these drones resulted in injuries to two children in Quetta and a civilian each in Kohat and Rawalpindi,” the ISPR said.
The military described the attacks as an attempt to spread fear among civilians.
“These attacks were aimed at inducing fear in the public and remind us of the terrorist mindset which drives the Afghan Taliban,” the statement said.
Earlier, Pakistani security sources had said two rudimentary drones were intercepted near Rawalpindi using electronic countermeasures, prompting a brief precautionary closure of local airspace.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also said the drones were linked to terrorists backed by the Afghan Taliban authorities, rejecting claims circulating from Taliban-linked sources.
The incident comes as Pakistan’s cross-border military campaign, Operation Ghazab lil Haq, enters its third week after being launched on Feb. 26 in response to persistent cross-border terrorism from Afghan territory.
According to Pakistani officials, the operation targets terrorist camps, logistical bases and support infrastructure used by groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan.
The ISPR said the campaign would continue until Pakistan’s security concerns are addressed.
“Pakistan’s Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq shall continue till the Afghan Taliban address Pakistan’s core concern with respect to terrorism originating from Afghan soil,” the statement said.
The military added that Pakistan’s armed forces remained committed to protecting the country against terrorist threats.
“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 ISPR said.
