Tarar said the targets were locations allegedly used to launch and store drones. He described the strikes as a response to Pakistan's right to self-defence.

“In exercise of its sovereign right to self-defence, Pakistan conducted precision aerial and drone strikes against 10 locations in Afghanistan used for launching and storing these drones,” Tarar said in a post on X.

The strikes came a day after Pakistan's air defence systems shot down eight drones that entered Pakistani airspace from Afghanistan, according to security sources.

Four drones were intercepted near the Torkham border, while four others were brought down in mountainous areas near Kohat. Security sources said the drones were detected and intercepted before reaching their intended targets.

Tarar said the strikes were “deliberate, precise, calibrated and proportionate” and were limited to identified military objectives directly linked to the attempted attacks.

He condemned what he described as an unlawful drone incursion launched from Afghan territory on September 23, calling it a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Tarar said Pakistan had repeatedly raised concerns with the Afghan Taliban over the presence of militant sanctuaries and support networks on Afghan soil.

He accused the Taliban authorities of failing to take “effective, concrete, verifiable and sustained action” against groups operating from Afghanistan and said the drone attacks represented an escalation of the situation.

The minister said Pakistan's air defence systems had detected, tracked and neutralised all the drones before they could reach their intended targets.

He warned that Pakistan would not tolerate attacks launched from Afghan territory, whether by militant groups or by the Afghan Taliban authorities themselves.

“Any violation of Pakistan's sovereignty will be met with an immediate and decisive response,” Tarar said, adding that Pakistan would take necessary measures to protect its territory, citizens and national security.

He called on the Afghan Taliban authorities to immediately halt hostile activity against Pakistan and ensure that Afghan territory was not used to launch attacks or conduct hostile operations against the country.

At the same time, Tarar said Pakistan did not seek escalation and remained committed to regional peace, dialogue and constructive engagement.

However, he warned that Pakistan's preference for peace should not be interpreted as an unlimited tolerance of hostile actions.

Cross-border militancy

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have intensified amid a rise in cross-border militant violence.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused groups operating from Afghan territory of carrying out attacks inside Pakistan and has urged the Taliban authorities to take verifiable action against them. Kabul has rejected Pakistan's allegations and has also condemned Pakistani military strikes inside Afghanistan.

Pakistan carried out earlier airstrikes in Afghanistan on September 21, saying they targeted militant positions and killed 28 militants. Afghan authorities and the United Nations reported that three civilians were killed in those strikes.

The latest strikes mark another escalation in tensions between the two neighbours, with the dispute over militant activity and alleged sanctuaries on Afghan soil remaining a major point of contention.