Afghanistan Claims Cross-Border Strikes on ISIS-K Sites in Pakistan; Islamabad Says Drone Intercepted

Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense said on June 19, 2026 that its forces struck alleged ISIS-K sites in Pakistan's Balochistan province (Saranan town) and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa using what it described as 'rudimentary drones.' Pakistan's Air Force said it intercepted a Taliban drone near Shinko, Khyber, before it reached its target. Pakistan's Information Ministry rejected the Taliban's claims of successful strikes as 'false as usual' and 'fake and nefarious.' The episode marks an early instance of Kabul publicly claiming offensive cross-border action rather than only defensive retaliatory fire.