Key Points
- Small drones shot down in Abbottabad, Swabi and Nowshera
- No casualties or property damage reported
- Government calls perpetrators “Fitnatul Khawarij,” a term for local Taliban militants
- Islamabad alleges ideological and operational links with the Afghan Taliban
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces shot down several small drones allegedly launched by local militants in three cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the information minister said on Friday.
Describing the incident as proof of the Taliban nexus amid border clashes with Afghanistan, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said, “Fitnatul Khawarij, formerly known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists, attempted to fly small drones in Abbottabad, Swabi and Nowshera.
Anti-drone systems intercepted and destroyed all of them, he said in the X post, adding that there was no loss of life or damage to property.
Fitna al khawarij terrorists have attempted to launch small drones in Abbotabad, Swabi and Nowshera. Anti Drone Systems have brought down all the drones. No damage to life.
The incidents have again exposed direct linkages between Afghan Taliban Regime and Terrorism in Pakistan.
— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) February 27, 2026
The term “Fitnatul Khawarij” is used by Pakistani authorities to describe factions of the Pakistani Taliban, formally known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
The phrase draws on early Islamic history. “Khawarij” refers to a sect that emerged in the 7th century and rebelled against established Muslim authority. In mainstream Islamic scholarship, the group is regarded as extremist and violent for declaring other Muslims illegitimate and justifying bloodshed.
By invoking this term, the Pakistani government seeks to emphasise that the militants operate outside accepted religious and constitutional boundaries.
Tarar stressed that the attempted drone activity originated from within Pakistan, not from across the border. He said the episode again exposed what he described as direct linkages between these local Taliban factions and the authorities in Kabul, led by the Afghan Taliban.
Islamabad has consistently argued that ideological alignment and operational space in Afghanistan have emboldened anti-Pakistan militant groups since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021. The Afghan Taliban regime has denied permitting their territory to be used for attacks against other states, while the on-ground situation is proven to be entirely the opposite.
The drone attacks took place following Thursday’s border clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces. Officials in Islamabad view the timing as deliberate, suggesting militant networks sought to exploit heightened regional sensitivities to stage acts of sabotage inside Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban resorted to unprovoked aggression, which the Pakistani forces responded to with full force under an operation named Ghazab Lil Haq. According to the reports so far, the clashes are still on the Afghan side, which has suffered over 200 casualties of its fighters. Unconformed reports also claim that the Afghan Taliban Supreme Leader has also killed in the precision strikes by the Pakistan Air Force.
Security experts say the use of small commercial drones reflects an evolving militant playbook. Such devices are relatively inexpensive, widely available, and can be modified for surveillance or limited attacks, creating fresh security challenges for law enforcement agencies.
Pakistan has for more than two decades confronted militant violence, particularly in its northwestern regions. Thousands of civilians and security personnel have sacrificed their lives in attacks since the country joined the global counter-terrorism campaign after 2001.
Authorities say enhanced surveillance systems and counter-drone technology now form part of a broader strategy to pre-empt emerging threats.
Officials described the latest interceptions as evidence of operational readiness and reiterated that any attempt to destabilise the country would be met with a decisive response. Pakistan’s government, forces, and people are prepared to defend the homeland at any cost, they added,
