Drones intensify Pak-Afghan standoff as rival claims clashes
Pakistan said it downed four drones launched by the Afghan Taliban after Kabul claimed air strikes on so‑called ISIS centres in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; both sides offered competing narratives with no independent verification. The incident fits a continuing cross-border tit-for-tat since late 2025, prompting analysts to warn of potential escalation while urging diplomacy. Pakistan pursues a strategy of controlled escalation amid rising domestic security concerns, and Afghanistan faces pressure to curb cross-border attacks.