Pakistan intercepts rudimentary drones launched by Afghan Taliban: ISPR

Rawalpindi (Web Desk): A few rudimentary drones launched by the Afghan Taliban, in an attempt to create fear in the people of Pakistan, were intercepted before reaching their intended locations, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the drones were neutralised before they could strike their targets through a combination of “soft and hard kill measures.”

The statement added that after the successful interception, falling debris from the destroyed drones caused injuries in different areas. Two children were injured in Quetta, while one civilian each sustained injuries in Kohat and Rawalpindi.

“These attacks were aimed at inducing fear in the public and remind us of the terrorist mindset which drives the Afghan Taliban. On one hand, the Afghan Taliban project victimhood to garner global sympathy while on the other hand, they actively target civilians through their terrorist proxies and drones,” the statement said.

The military’s media further stated that the citizens of Pakistan as well as the country’s armed forces were fully aware of what it described as the real character and objectives of the militant group currently in control of Afghanistan.

“Pakistan’s Operation Ghazab lil-Haq shall continue till the Afghan Taliban address Pakistan’s core concern with respect to terrorism originating from Afghan soil. Pakistan’s Armed Forces stand steadfast in the fight against terrorism and its manifestations, like the drone attacks by Afghan Taliban. We shall keep defending the people of Pakistan against terrorists and their facilitators and shall not flinch in the face of such provocations by the Afghan Taliban,” the ISPR statement said.

President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the rudimentary drone attacks carried out by Afghan Taliban elements aimed at targeting civilian areas in Pakistan.

In a statement, he emphasized that the illegitimate regime of Afghanistan installed by terror and brute force continues to renege on its commitments not to provide safe sanctuaries to terrorist groups and now has the audacity to provoke a major military power of the Islamic world.

President Zardari said that the Afghan terrorist regime has crossed a red line by attempting to target our civilians while Pakistan remains engaged in efforts to promote peace and stability in the Gulf region and West Asia.

He said the illegitimate and terrorist Taliban regime has brought grave consequences upon itself by crossing this red line.

The President expressed his best wishes for the speedy recovery of children and other civilians injured by drone debris in Quetta, Kohat and Rawalpindi.

President Zardari also reaffirmed that Pakistan’s armed forces and security institutions remain fully committed to the defence of the country and the protection of its people.