Pakistani security sources said on Wednesday that the armed forces shot down eight drones that entered Pakistani airspace from the Afghan side, amid heightened tensions between the two neighbours. State-run Radio Pakistan and Dawn reported that four drones were intercepted near the Torkham border and four more near mountainous areas adjoining Kohat. The sources attributed the drones to the Afghan Taliban.
There was no immediate independent confirmation from Afghan authorities, so the number, origin and intended targets of the drones remain claims attributed to Pakistani security sources. Earlier reports had referred to two drones near Kohat before security sources later put the overall figure at eight.
The development follows recent Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan's Kunar and Paktika provinces, which Islamabad said targeted militants while Afghan authorities reported civilian casualties. Relations have been strained by repeated disputes over cross-border militancy, airstrikes and border security.
Pakistan accuses the TTP and other armed groups of using Afghan territory, an allegation the Taliban authorities reject. Kabul says Afghan soil is not permitted to be used against other countries and has condemned Pakistani strikes as violations of sovereignty.
Torkham is a major crossing for trade and passenger traffic, meaning any further escalation could also affect civilian movement and commerce. Attention is now focused on an official response from Kabul and whether the incident is followed by further military activity. No separate, reliably confirmed new Pakistani airstrike inside Afghanistan had been reported at the time of publication.