ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday strongly denounced the rudimentary drone attacks allegedly launched by elements of the Afghan Taliban targeting civilian areas inside Pakistan.
In a statement issued by the President Secretariat’s Media Wing, the president described the Afghan administration as an “illegitimate and terrorist regime,” saying it had crossed a red line by carrying out such actions.
According to Asif Ali Zardari, the government in Afghanistan had earlier pledged not to allow militant groups to use its territory as safe havens, but has repeatedly failed to honour those commitments. He said it was alarming that the Afghan leadership would attempt to provoke a major military power in the Islamic world.
The president noted that while the Afghan Taliban were reportedly seeking dialogue with countries friendly to Pakistan, their attempts to target civilian areas represented a serious escalation.
He also pointed out that the incident occurred at a time when Pakistan is working to promote peace and stability in the Gulf and wider West Asian region.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed concern over civilians injured by falling drone debris and wished a speedy recovery to children and others hurt in the incidents in Quetta, Kohat and Rawalpindi.
He reaffirmed that Pakistan’s armed forces and national security institutions remain fully prepared to safeguard the country and ensure the protection of its citizens.
Earlier, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), reported that four civilians including two children—were injured after debris from intercepted drones fell in various areas.
According to the ISPR statement, a few basic drones were launched by the Afghan Taliban on March 13, 2026, apparently to create fear among the Pakistani population.
The military said the drones were neutralized before reaching their targets through a combination of soft and hard kill methods. However, debris from the intercepted drones caused injuries to civilians. Two children were hurt in Quetta, while one civilian each was injured in Kohat and Rawalpindi.
The ISPR added that such actions were intended to spread panic and reflected what it described as the terrorist mindset of the Afghan Taliban.
