8 drones launched by Afghan Taliban shot down near Torkham border, Kohat: security sources

On Wednesday, Pakistan's armed forces engaged and successfully shot down eight drones launched by the Afghan Taliban near the Torkham border and in Kohat city, according to security sources. All eight drones entered Pakistani airspace and were eliminated by the country's air defense systems. The Pakistan armed forces and the Pakistan Air Force's "Shaheens" actively thwarted the Taliban's attempt to target civilian areas, the sources reported.

Four of the drones were intercepted near the Torkham border, while the remaining four were shot down near Kohat.

This incident highlights the ongoing concern that Afghanistan remains a hub of terrorism, as emphasized by the Pakistani information ministry earlier in the week. The ministry stated that over 28 terrorists were eliminated in recent strikes, amid rising tensions between Islamabad and Kabul. The Pakistani government has repeatedly urged the Taliban to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries linked to banned groups in Afghanistan, which officials claim are used for attacks in Pakistan.

In the past few months, there have been several drone incursions into Pakistan by the Afghan Taliban. Two drones were intercepted in June in Qila Abdullah and Chagai districts, while four other drones were shot down near the Torkham border. Last week, Pakistan informed the UN Security Council that it would respond to terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan in self-defense, as per international law.