Pakistan army says it intercepted four Afghan drones over border

Pakistan's armed forces announced that they shot down four unmanned aerial vehicles launched from Afghanistan, which crossed into Pakistan's Baluchistan region. The Pakistani statement said: "the Taliban regime in Afghanistan sent four minor drones, which entered the border with the (province) Baluchistan; the hostile aerial platforms were detected immediately." Afghanistan's defence ministry called the incursions "air strikes" that caused casualties in the Baluchistan and Haibari Paktunghva provinces, including members of the Islamic State group.

The two sides have been in a prolonged border dispute. Pakistan earlier said its air strikes in Afghanistan had killed about 30 people, while the Taliban reported civilian deaths; the UN later confirmed 28 civilians were killed and nearly 50 injured. The Taliban government pledged retaliation later in the week. Regional mediators, including China, have attempted to de‑escalate the tensions without success.