Pakistan Says It Intercepted 23 Drones from Afghanistan in September
DID Press: Pakistan says it intercepted 23 suicide drones launched from Afghanistan in September, raising concerns about the growing use of unmanned aircraft amid escalating clashes between Islamabad and the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan.
According to a report by France 24, the Afghan Taliban have increasingly used drones to attack Pakistani military positions since fighting between the two sides began in February this year.
On September 28, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said it had delivered a diplomatic protest to the Taliban authorities over what it described as “provocative incursions.” The ministry alleged that 23 drones had entered Pakistani airspace from Afghanistan since the beginning of September.
Pakistan’s military also said on September 23 that it had shot down at least eight fixed-wing drones in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, less than one km from the Afghan border.
Low-Cost Drones With Significant Psychological Impact
According to the report, the Taliban use two types of drones against Pakistani military positions: small, first-person-view (FPV) quadcopters capable of carrying munitions and larger fixed-wing aircraft used in suicide attacks.
Drone expert Mark Grosel said manufacturing such equipment had become relatively straightforward, with the necessary components widely available on commercial markets.
Although these drones have limited military capabilities and can be intercepted, Grosel said they could still threaten a range of targets because they are difficult to detect during the early stages of flight.
He highlighted their low production costs and psychological impact, explaining that their use sends a message that critical infrastructure and strategic facilities could come under attack at any time.
France 24 also examined photographs and videos of drones that Pakistan’s military said it had shot down. Based on this material, the report suggested that some of the aircraft might be equipped with DLE55-type engines, which are commercially available. However, it did not provide conclusive evidence identifying the drones’ manufacturer or the source of their components.
Rising Attacks and Human Costs
The report cited figures showing that attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) against Pakistani security forces increased from 98 incidents in 2021 to 470 in 2024.
It also referred to a suicide car-bomb attack at a mosque in Kohat, Pakistan, on September 18, 2026, which reportedly killed 21 people.
The growing use of inexpensive drones, alongside airstrikes and cross-border clashes, has heightened concerns about further escalation in security tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the potential consequences for civilians.