Afghanistan Fires Drones Into Pakistan for First Time in Border War

Afghanistan's defense ministry said its air force struck a Daesh center in Saranan and conducted operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, marking the first known instance of the Taliban government directing drone strikes into Pakistani territory during the months-long border war. Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations said security forces 'neutralised' all four drones using 'sophisticated countermeasures' before they reached their intended targets. The strikes followed Pakistan's June 29 cross-border ground operation and strikes in Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar, deepening a tit-for-tat military escalation between Islamabad and the Taliban government that has ground on since February 2026 amid failed mediation efforts.