ISLAMABAD: Pakistani police and law enforcement agencies in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province foiled 246 drone attack attempts this year, a report shared by state-run media said on Sunday.
Pakistani officials have said in the past that armed groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), are increasingly using commercial drones modified to drop explosives, alongside other weapons, to attack Pakistani law enforcers. A police officer was killed last month during an intelligence-based operation in northwestern Hangu district.
Pakistani officials say these weapons were acquired by militants after the US military withdrew from neighboring Afghanistan.
“According to official report on Sunday, a total of 246 drone attack attempts were recorded,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.
“The highest number of 215 such attacks occurred in the Bannu region.”
Fifteen drone attacks were attempted in KP’s Dera Ismail Khan, seven in Malakand and four in Peshawar districts, the report said.
It added that two drone attack attempts were each foiled in Mardan and Kohat districts, while one incident was reported in the Hazara division.
“Police officials stated that all these attacks were successfully prevented using advanced anti-drone technology, ensuring that no casualties or damage occurred,” APP reported.
It said authorities continue to remain vigilant amid ongoing security concerns in the region.
Islamabad blames Afghanistan for harboring militant groups that it says attack Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations and says it does not allow its soil to be used for attacks against other countries.
Pakistan has seen an uptick in militant attacks in its KP province bordering Afghanistan since the Afghan Taliban seized power in August 2021. The Taliban deny Pakistan’s accusations and urge it to resolve its security challenges on its own.
