The Afghan Taliban’s Growing Drone War Against Pakistan — The Diplomat

Pakistan’s air defense system shot down eight drones after they entered the country’s airspace from Afghanistan on September 23. Four drones were shot down near the border at Torkham and four were shot down near Kohat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In response, Pakistan struck 10 locations in Afghanistan that were being used to launch and store drones by the Afghan Taliban. This growing use of drones has added a dangerous new dimension to an already fragile Afghanistan-Pakistan relationship. On its western border, Pakistan now faces a two-pronged security challenge: first, the direct use of drones by the Afghan Taliban against Pakistani security positions and other targets, and second, the transfer or facilitation of drone technology to affiliated militant groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), enabling them to conduct attacks against military check posts and other targets inside Pakistan. What was once primarily a tool of surveillance, propaganda, and battlefield observation has evolved into an instrument capable of extending the reach, precision, and lethality of militant violence. The Afghan Taliban began using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in 2016, initially for propaganda purposes. Over time, however, their use expanded into operational roles, including reconnaissance, surveillance, and the delivery of explosives. Between February 27 to March 15, 2026 the Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility for 15 drone attacks in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and…