Islamabad, March 14 2026 (Agencies) – Drone attacks were reported in several parts of Pakistan on Saturday amid rising tensions with neighboring Afghanistan, with incidents taking place in Islamabad, Kohat and Quetta, according to security sources.
Officials said security forces detected and responded to drone activity targeting sensitive locations in Islamabad, Kohat and Quetta. Air defence and electronic counter-measures systems were reportedly used to intercept or neutralize the drones before they could cause major damage.
In Islamabad, four drones were reportedly shot down near Islamabad International Airport after they were detected flying in restricted airspace. Security officials later arrested an Afghan national suspected of operating two of the drones. Authorities said the arrest was made after security agencies traced drone coordinates to the Haripur area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Preliminary assessments by security sources indicated that the drones intercepted over Islamabad airport were believed to be of Israeli or Indian origin and may have been supplied to elements linked to the Afghan Taliban.
In Kohat, security officials said a drone targeted a military installation in the area, prompting a swift response by Pakistani forces. The situation was quickly brought under control and no major casualties were reported.
Another drone incident occurred near a military facility in Quetta, where radar systems detected an incoming aerial device. Security personnel responded rapidly and neutralized the threat before it could reach its intended target.
Meanwhile, reports have also surfaced alleging possible contacts between elements of the Afghan Taliban and Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad. According to these claims, Mossad operatives are believed to have provided small low-radar-signature drone systems to Taliban elements operating in Afghanistan. The platforms mentioned in the reports include systems such as the Orbiter 3 UAV and other compact reconnaissance drones.
The reports further claim that in return for this alleged cooperation, Israeli intelligence may have been granted discreet operational facilities in western Afghanistan near the Iranian border. These facilities are said to include temporary drone launch pads and signals intelligence monitoring points.
According to the claims, drone components were initially shipped from the Israeli port of Port of Eilat through the Red Sea disguised as agricultural drone equipment. The cargo was reportedly routed through the Jebel Ali Port before being re-labeled in a free-zone facility.
The shipment was then allegedly moved toward the Chabahar Free Trade-Industrial Zone and later transported by smuggling networks across the border into Afghanistan’s Nimruz province. From there, the equipment was reportedly moved through Zaranj and Qala-e-Naw before reaching Shindand Air Base, which analysts say could serve as a covert base for drone operations.
Other remote areas such as the desert region of Dasht-e Margo and mountainous corridors in Ghor and Farah provinces were also reportedly considered suitable for concealed drone launch sites and signals intelligence stations, though these claims remain unverified.
Meanwhile, separate reports indicated that unidentified drones were also sighted flying over sectors of Indian-controlled territory near Samba and Ramgarh during the night, highlighting the broader regional concerns about drone activity across South Asia.
Security analysts note that modern drone warfare involves not only the aircraft but also a network of remote operators, communication links, navigation systems and logistical support infrastructure. Even relatively small drones can be used for surveillance missions or limited strike capabilities.
The incidents have renewed concerns about the increasing role of unmanned aerial systems in regional conflicts. Pakistani authorities say the country remains vigilant and continues to enhance its defensive capabilities to counter evolving drone threats and ensure the protection of critical infrastructure and public safety.