ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's military said early Wednesday that security forces intercepted and neutralized four drones launched from Afghanistan into the country's southwestern Balochistan province, saying the aerial platforms were part of the Afghan Taliban regime's support for terrorist outfits operating from territory under its control.
According to a statement issued by the military's media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the four rudimentary drones crossed the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on June 30.
The military said Pakistan's integrated air defense network detected the drones immediately and successfully intercepted all four before they could achieve their intended objectives.
“The hostile aerial platforms were immediately picked up by Pakistan's robust air defence network,” the statement said.
“Demonstrating high operational readiness, security forces successfully neutralized all four incoming drones using sophisticated countermeasures. Due to the swift and effective response, the malicious attempts were effectively thwarted.”
The latest development comes as Pakistan continues Operation Ghazab lil Haq, its cross-border counterterrorism campaign, which targets terrorist infrastructure used to facilitate attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad has repeatedly maintained that terrorist outfits continue to operate from Afghan territory and has urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to fulfil their international obligations by preventing the use of their soil for attacks against Pakistan.
ISPR said the drone launches were intended to distract the Afghan public from internal challenges.
“Such gimmicks of Afghan Taliban regime are aimed at misleading the Afghan population suffering under their oppressive regime,” the statement said.
“The Afghan Taliban should realise that their irresponsible behaviour is only adding to the hardships of the Afghan people. Instead of trying to sedate their population through such antics and hollow rhetoric, they should eschew sponsorship of terrorism and adhere to the principle of peaceful coexistence.”
The military warned that any further cross-border provocations would receive a strong response.
“However, if the Afghan Taliban continue to provoke Pakistan, they would receive a befitting response which would cost them heavily,” ISPR said.
Reaffirming Pakistan's security posture, the military said the armed forces remained fully prepared to defend the country's sovereignty.
“Any misadventures or cross-border provocations threatening the sovereignty of Pakistan and endangering our people will continue to be met with swift, decisive, and overwhelming responses under Operation Ghazab lil Haq,” the statement said.
Bottom of Form
