Pakistan says thwarted Afghan Taliban 'drone attacks'

Pakistan intercepts Afghan Taliban drone attacks, temporarily closes airspace, as President Zardari condemns targeting of civilians.

President Asif Ali Zardari said on Saturday (March 14, 2026) the Afghan Taliban had "crossed a red line" by launching what the military called "rudimentary drones" against civilian targets in Pakistan.

Pakistan's military said they were intercepted on Friday night and did not reach their targets, including their own headquarters in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad.

The Taliban authorities lack a fully functional air force but have used locally produced drones, targeting areas primarily in border regions of Pakistan, experts say.

Pakistan's military said debris from the downed drones on Friday (March 13, 2026) injured two children in Quetta, in the southwest, and a civilian each in Kohat, south of Peshawar in the northwest, and Rawalpindi.

Security sources said airspace around the capital was temporarily closed as a precautionary measure when the drones were detected.

"Afghan Taliban launched few rudimentary drones to harass the brave people of Pakistan. The drones... did not reach their intended targets," the military said.