ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday said militants attempted to launch small drones inside its territory, while Afghanistan’s ministry of defense claimed it had carried out retaliatory airstrikes in “various areas of Pakistan,” marking a sharp escalation in cross-border hostilities between the bitter neighbors.
The developments follow Pakistani airstrikes earlier this week targeting what Islamabad said were Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh militant camps inside Afghanistan. Pakistan said those strikes killed more than 100 militants, while Kabul said women and children were killed and condemned the attacks as violations of Afghan sovereignty.
On Thursday night, Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities said they had launched “large-scale offensive operations” against Pakistani military bases and installations, prompting Pakistan to say its forces were responding to what it described as unprovoked fire along the shared border.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Friday afternoon militants had attempted drone activity inside three Pakistani cities.
“Fitna al khawarij [TTP] terrorists have attempted to launch small drones in Abbottabad, Swabi and Nowshera. Anti Drone Systems have brought down all the drones. No damage to life,” Tarar said.
