The Pakistan Army has recently activated a specialized unit to counter drone threats following a series of advanced aerial intrusions by militant groups. This action is crucial as the country is grappling with a severe energy crisis worsened by regional conflicts and a direct menace to its remaining petroleum infrastructure.
According to exclusive information obtained by India Today from top intelligence sources, the activation of the counter-drone unit is in response to a significant change in militant strategies. Terrorist groups are reportedly targeting refineries and storage facilities to disrupt the country’s mobility. An attack on key hubs like those managed by Pakistan State Oil (PSO) could lead to a complete national shutdown.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced the establishment of its own “air force unit” in late 2025 and has increasingly deployed weaponized quadcopters for standoff assaults. Security analysts point out that Pakistan’s conventional air defenses are geared towards high-altitude threats from neighboring adversaries, making it challenging to detect low-flying, slow-moving drones that serve as “aerial suicide bombers.” This situation necessitates the use of “soft-kill” (jamming) and “hard-kill” (interception) technologies.
Of particular concern is the specific threat posed to petroleum facilities. With the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the resultant closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistan’s energy security is under significant strain. Security forces have heightened patrols around the Attock and Karachi refineries, while the new counter-drone units are being equipped with portable electronic jammers and rapid-response interceptors to establish a protective “no-fly bubble” around critical energy installations.
PAKISTAN TARGETS TTP STRONGHOLDS
Recent weeks have seen escalating tensions with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, marked by increased violence on both sides of the border. Pakistani forces have conducted raids in regions like North Waziristan, Orakzai, and Dera Ismail Khan, resulting in the reported deaths of numerous TTP combatants. Simultaneously, airstrikes have targeted suspected militant hideouts across the border in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar, Paktika, and Kandahar provinces, hitting camps and supply bases associated with the group.
In response, Kabul has taken retaliatory measures, denouncing Pakistan’s cross-border airstrikes as violations of sovereignty and international law, alleging that civilian residences were struck. Afghanistan has initiated large-scale offensive operations along the Durand Line, including ground clashes and drone strikes targeting Pakistani military positions.
A temporary truce had been observed by both sides during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, offering a brief respite from hostilities. However, clashes reignited along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border last week.