According to Pakistan’s military, Afghan Taliban forces attempted to send “four rudimentary drones” into the southern province of Balochistan. The military stated that the aerial objects were quickly detected and neutralised by what it described as a “robust air defence network,” preventing any reported damage on the ground.

In a strongly worded warning, the military added that continued provocations would be met with a “befitting response” that would come at a significant cost.

On the other side, Afghanistan’s defence ministry posted on social media platform X that it had conducted air operations in Pakistan’s Balochistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. It claimed the strikes targeted elements linked to an ISIL (ISIS) affiliate and resulted in casualties.

The Taliban, however, do not operate a conventional air force and lack fighter jets, though they have previously relied on small drones in border-related confrontations.

The latest exchange adds to a rapidly deteriorating relationship between the two neighbours, which has remained strained since the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021. Cross-border clashes have intensified in recent months, with hundreds reported killed since February amid retaliatory strikes on both sides.

Tensions escalated further after a deadly attack in Karachi, which prompted Pakistan to launch strikes in eastern Afghanistan. Islamabad said those operations targeted militant groups, while Afghan authorities alleged civilian casualties, claiming at least 36 people were killed.

At the heart of the conflict lies Pakistan’s accusation that the Taliban administration provides space for armed groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has carried out a prolonged insurgency inside Pakistan. Kabul denies the claim, accusing Pakistan of violating its sovereignty and sheltering hostile networks in return.

With both sides trading accusations and cross-border strikes becoming more frequent, the risk of further escalation along the frontier remains high.