ISLAMABAD/LAKKI MARWAT/KOHAT: A wave of terrorist violence swept across parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the federal capital on Friday, with security forces battling multiple drone threats and a deadly ambush on police that claimed seven lives.
Security forces intercepted and shot down two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that were detected loitering near a sensitive location in the federal capital on Friday.
According to senior officials, the drones were spotted in the vicinity of Faizabad Interchange, a major junction linking Islamabad and Rawalpindi, prompting an immediate response from air defence units. As a precautionary measure following the detection, the airspace over Islamabad was temporarily closed, leading to a brief suspension of flight operations.
Prime Minister’s spokesperson for foreign media Mosharraf Zaidi confirmed that the situation was brought under control and the airspace was reopened to all traffic once the threat was eliminated. The swift action was credited with preventing any potential damage or escalation in the capital’s vicinity. Security forces remain on high alert as a formal investigation has been launched to determine the origin and intended purpose of the drones. Officials are closely monitoring the airspace and security agencies have maintained a presence in the area as the probe continues.
Flight operations at the Islamabad International Airport (IIA) returned to normal following a brief suspension, according to official statements from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA spokesperson confirmed that the temporary adjustment, which led to a short-lived disruption in the flight schedule, was necessitated by unspecified operational requirements. While the suspension caused a momentary pause in activity, airside operations were prioritised and restored shortly thereafter. All runways and terminal operations are fully functional.
According to the Ministry of Information, two rudimentary drones belonging to the terrorist group Fitna al-Khwarij (FAK), nurtured by the Afghan Taliban regime, were successfully intercepted by Pakistan’s security forces using electronic countermeasures. No military or civilian infrastructure was hit in the incident, officials said while adding only minor damage was reported on the ground due to the debris after the drones were forced to crash.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said that reports claiming damage in drone attacks on Pakistan by Fitna al-Khwarij were unconfirmed and part of false propaganda spread by the Afghan Taliban regime and Indian social media.
In a statement issued here, the ministry noted that Pakistani security forces successfully destroyed two drones sent by the leading Fitna al-Khwarij under the auspices of Afghan Taliban regime using modern electronic defence equipment.
It clarified that no military installation was damaged in the failed attack attempt. After the drones were destroyed, Afghan and Indian propaganda cells began exaggerating claims regarding debris from the crashed drones.
“Not only were the false and baseless claims of the Afghan Taliban regime exposed once again, as usual, but the sponsorship of Indian proxies Fitna al-Khwarij and Fitna al-Hindustan by the Afghan Taliban regime became clear to the whole world,” the statement said. The so-called Afghan Ministry of Defence, it added, is known for spreading such fabricated and false stories. It also noted that recently the same account spread false propaganda about the shooting down of a Pakistan Air Force aircraft and the arrest of its pilot, which later had to be removed due to embarrassment.
Meanwhile, three people were injured as security forces repelled multiple drone attacks by terrorists in sensitive areas of Kohat city, officials said. According to District Police Officer (DPO) Shahbaz Elahi and security sources, the attacks targeted three sensitive locations in the city, including Kohat Fort, the 9 Division area and parts of Kohat Cantonment. The attacks were foiled and drones destroyed.
Those injured in the explosions were identified as Bilal, a sanitation worker inside the Kohat Fort, and gardeners Haroon and Mansoor. They were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital, Kohat. Officials said the first attack occurred at 7:45am when a drone dropped an explosive at Kohat Fort, causing a loud explosion. Two more attacks were carried out at sensitive locations inside Kohat Cantonment. A fourth explosion was later reported again near Kohat Fort, though no casualties were reported in that incident.
Security personnel responded to the attacks and opened fire with heavy weapons while also using anti-drone guns to shoot down the drones. Emergency sirens were sounded across the city during the attacks, while the sounds of explosions and gunfire were heard in distant areas.
After the incidents, Kohat police, security forces and intelligence agencies launched patrols in the city and surrounding areas, The DPO and Pakistan Army officials urged residents to remain peaceful and avoid paying attention to rumours.
Later in the afternoon, a police special team neutralised another suspected drone using an anti-drone system. According to the DPO, the special police squad on duty detected the flight of a suspicious drone in the area and immediately took action. Using anti-drone technology, the team jammed the drone’s signals, causing its motor to shut down and the device to fall to the ground. The DPO said security measures across the district have been tightened and special police teams had been deployed at sensitive locations to maintain law and order.
In another development, seven policemen, including a station house officer (SHO), were martyred and one cop was injured when their vehicle was targeted with a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) in the Bhittani subdivision within the Lakki Marwat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday.
Police officials said that terrorists had planted an IED along the Shahdikhel-Mastikhel Road to target the law enforcement personnel, adding the SHO Saddar and six cops lost their lives in the explosion. Those martyred in the blast included SHO of Shadikhel Sardar Azam Khan, Constables Shah Khalid, Shah Behram, Haji Mohammad, Gul Zada, Sakhi Zada and Namdar Khan. Another cop identified as Insafuddin was injured.
A large police contingent reached the area and launched a search for the perpetrators of the attack.Banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Wilayat Bannu and Waziristan, claimed responsibility for the attack on the police in Lakki Marwat. The funeral prayers for the police personnel were offered with state honours at the Police Lines, Lakki Marwat.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Lakki Marwat. Expressing deep grief over the loss of lives in a statement, the president offered prayers for the eternal peace of martyred officers and extended heartfelt condolences to their families. Zardari said the police personnel’s bravery and commitment to safeguarding the country would not go in vain. He reiterated the nation’s resolve to continue the fight against terrorism until its complete eradication.
The prime minister expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of SHO and other policemen who lost their lives in the explosion. He prayed for elevation of ranks of martyrs and for patience and strength for the bereaved families. He reiterated that the government remains determined to completely eradicate terrorism from the country.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also strongly condemned the terrorist attack.
Meanwhile, a cop, who was abducted by unidentified armed men in Mamond tehsil of Bajaur, was martyred, police sources said. The sources said the body of acting assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Shah Munir had not been recovered yet. Munir was posted at the Badan Mamond police post. However, he was on leave and present in his native area when unidentified armed men abducted him from the Dama Dola area of Mamond tehsil a day earlier. Officials said the abductors later shot him dead. Police added that a search operation had been launched to recover the body, while an investigation into the incident was underway to trace and arrest those involved.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar shared details of the ongoing Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq, showing losses of Fitna Al Khwarij/Afghan Taliban, saying 663 had been killed and 887 plus injured while 249 posts destroyed.
Posting summary of the operation on his X account, the minister wrote that 44 posts were also captured, 224 tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery guns destroyed, whereas as many as 70 terrorists and terrorist support infrastructure locations across Afghanistan effectively targeted by air.
He wrote that on night of March 12-13, Pakistan successfully targeted terrorists’ affiliated installations in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar and their support infrastructure, including logistic bases and camps. The minister noted that the released video clearly shows that Pakistan precisely targeted only those installations which directly/ indirectly support terrorism from inside Afghanistan and terrorist camps. “No civilian population or civilian infrastructures were targeted as falsely propagated by Afghan regime officials and media,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, amid countrywide street protests against deadly US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, the US Embassy in Islamabad extended the suspension of its visa services for one week. “All immigrant and non-immigrant visa appointments are cancelled through March 20,” the embassy said in a post on its official X account. It, however, said it would continue to serve American citizens requiring routine and emergency services.
On March 9, the embassy had announced the cancellation of all immigrant and non-immigrant visa appointments for a week. Affected visa applicants will receive instructions by email on rescheduling their appointments and they can also check the status of their appointment at the usatraveldocs website, according to it. Similarly, consular services at the US Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore remain suspended.
In a separate advisory, the US Embassy in Islamabad and the consulates general in Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar said they were continuing to monitor planned protests across Pakistan. “The movements of US personnel are restricted through March 15,” the advisory said.
Large crowds and traffic congestion are expected, along with a precautionary security presence, an increased number of checkpoints, and possible disruptions to local mobile and internet networks in the region. The advisory warned that protests could cause traffic delays or detours due to closed or blocked roads near demonstration sites and said the likelihood, duration and severity of such events remained uncertain.
“We advise US citizens to avoid large gatherings and remain aware of their surroundings,” it said, cautioning that large rallies, processions and protests could be fluid in nature and even peaceful events might turn violent. The embassy also urged US citizens in Pakistan to monitor local news, follow good personal security practices, avoid large crowds and ensure their STEP registration is up to date.
