PNN: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday strongly condemned drone attacks carried out by Afghan Taliban elements targeting civilian areas across Pakistan, calling the strikes a provocation by an “illegitimate regime” that had crossed a “red line.”
Further, the president expressed best wishes for those struck and injured by drone debris in Quetta, Kohat and Rawalpindi.
“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,” Zardari said in a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat. He added that the regime “now has the audacity to provoke a major military power of the Islamic world.”
Zardari noted the timing of the strikes, pointing out that they came “while Pakistan remains engaged in efforts to promote peace and stability in the Gulf region and West Asia.” He said the Afghan Taliban regime’s outreach for negotiations with friendly countries rang hollow against the backdrop of attacks on Pakistani civilians.
“The illegitimate and terrorist Taliban regime has brought grave consequences upon itself by crossing this red line,” Zardari said.
The president reaffirmed the state’s commitment to national security, saying Pakistan’s armed forces and security institutions remain “fully committed to the defence of the country and the protection of its people.” He reiterated the same sentiment in a post on X.
The country’s armed forces intercepted rudimentary drones allegedly launched by the Afghan Taliban yesterday, in what officials have described as a failed attempt to harass civilian populations, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The military’s media wing said the drones were detected and neutralised through a combination of defensive measures before they could reach their intended targets.
However, falling debris from the intercepted drones caused injuries to civilians in multiple cities. According to the statement, two children were injured in Quetta, while one civilian each sustained injuries in Kohat and Rawalpindi. All injured individuals received medical attention and were reported to be in stable condition.