Islamabad: Pakistan has announced that it carried out air and drone strikes at 10 locations in Afghanistan in response to what it described as a drone incursion from Afghan territory on September 23.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said in a statement issued on September 24 that all drones that entered Pakistani airspace from Afghanistan were detected and neutralized by Pakistan’s air defence system before they could reach their intended targets.

According to the minister, Pakistan exercised its right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and targeted locations in Afghanistan allegedly being used for the launch and storage of drones.

Tarar said the Pakistani operation was limited to specific military targets and was aimed at locations allegedly being used to conduct drone operations against Pakistan.

He said Pakistan had repeatedly conveyed its concerns to the Afghan authorities regarding the use of Afghan territory for activities against Pakistan. He urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to prevent their territory from being used for hostile activities against Pakistan.

The Pakistani action came a day after reports that drones approaching from the direction of Afghanistan had been shot down inside Pakistan. According to Pakistani security sources, a total of eight drones were intercepted near Torkham and Kohat.

The Pakistani government said the strikes inside Afghanistan were carried out in response to the alleged drone incursion. However, it has not released the specific names or geographical locations of the 10 sites targeted.

Pakistan has maintained that it does not seek escalation in the region and remains committed to peace and dialogue, while asserting its right to respond to any action that threatens its sovereignty and national security.