Pakistan struck 10 sites across Afghanistan’s Khost, Paktia, and Kandahar provinces early on 24 September. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the targets were “identified military objectives” linked to eight drones Pakistan intercepted near Kohat and Torkham a day earlier.
Afghan officials reported strikes in Khost’s Gurbaz, Ismail Khel, and Mandozai districts and in Kandahar city’s 9th district. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said four civilians were killed, while Pajhwok reported no casualties.
These strikes followed a 21 September round on Kunar and Paktika, where Pakistan claimed 28 militants killed and Kabul reported three civilian deaths. They also came after the Pakistan Army’s 16 September first publicly known first-person-view (FPV) drone strike on the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) at Abakhail, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Loitering Munition Strikes
Army Tailless Delta Loitering Munition
Similar in design to the Iranian Shahed-136, but unclear whether it is the Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) D-248, the recently revealed Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) tailless delta design – or some undisclosed Shahed-136 analogue.
The loitering munition was launched using a rocket-assisted take-off (RATO) motor, which is offered by Woot-Tech and the state-owned enterprise (SOE) National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM). Regardless of which RATO solution, these strikes also showcase how Pakistan has moved towards runway-independent strike operations.
Currently, the Pakistan Army is the only one of the tri-services known for inducting a direct Shahed-136-inspired loitering munition. The Pakistan Navy (PN) is working with Sysverve on the Mudamir-LR-series, which – while also analogous in concept to the Shahed-136 – is a distinct tailed-delta design. The PAF has its own land-based loitering munitions, such as the Dark Angel-II and YIHA.
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