Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Pakistan Says It Shot Down Eight Afghan Drones
Pakistan says eight drones came from Afghanistan and were shot down.
Four were brought down near Torkham, and four more near Kohat.
Pakistan also said it attacked Afghan Taliban positions after firing across the border.
The fighting grew after Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan on September 21.
Pakistan said those strikes targeted militants and killed 28 people.
Afghan authorities and the United Nations said civilians were hit instead.
Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of helping the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.
The Afghan Taliban denies supporting those militants and says Pakistan should handle its own security problems.
Pakistan said its army and air-defence systems shot down eight drones allegedly sent from Afghanistan.
Four drones were reportedly downed near Torkham and four in mountainous areas near Kohat.
Pakistani forces also targeted Afghan Taliban positions in the Kurram sector after reported border firing.
The clashes followed Pakistani airstrikes on September 21 in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Paktika provinces.
Pakistan said the strikes killed 28 militants, while Afghan authorities and UNAMA reported three civilian deaths and four injuries.
- Who
- Pakistan’s security forces and the Afghan Taliban are involved; Afghan authorities and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan also reported on the strikes.
- What
- Pakistan said it shot down eight drones allegedly sent from Afghanistan and struck Afghan Taliban positions after border firing.
- When
- The drone interceptions and reported attacks occurred overnight before September 23, 2026; Pakistani airstrikes occurred on September 21, 2026.
- Where
- The drones were reportedly intercepted near Torkham and Kohat, while related fighting occurred along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Paktika provinces.
- Why
- Pakistan said the actions followed alleged drone activity, provocative border firing, and concerns that the Afghan Taliban supports the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Account
Afghan Authorities’ and Taliban’s Account
Nature of the military action
Pakistan’s Account
Pakistan described the drone interceptions and strikes on Afghan Taliban positions as defensive and measured responses to alleged cross-border activity and firing.
Afghan Authorities’ and Taliban’s Account
The Afghan Taliban responded with mortar and artillery fire, while Afghan authorities disputed Pakistan’s description of its airstrikes by reporting civilian casualties.
Civilian impact of the September 21 strikes
Pakistan’s Account
Pakistan said its fighter jets conducted precision strikes that eliminated 28 militants, including Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan suicide-bombing trainers.
Afghan Authorities’ and Taliban’s Account
Afghan authorities and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported that civilian areas were hit, killing at least three civilians and wounding four.
Support for militant groups
Pakistan’s Account
Pakistan maintains that the Afghan Taliban shelters and provides logistical backing to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, which Pakistan links to attacks inside the country.
Afghan Authorities’ and Taliban’s Account
The Afghan Taliban denies supporting the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and says militant violence is an internal security problem for Pakistan to resolve within its own borders.
- Drones reportedly shot down
- Eight
- Reported interception sites
- Four near Torkham and four in mountainous areas near Kohat
- Pakistani airstrikes
- Nurgal district in Kunar and Barmal district in Paktika on September 21, 2026
- Militants Pakistan said were killed
- 28
- Civilian casualties reported by Afghan authorities and UNAMA
- At least three killed and four wounded
- Group Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of supporting
- Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
- Report date
- September 23, 2026