A worrying increase in terrorist drone attacks has been reported in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to police officials, terrorists have carried out around 40 drone attacks over the past three months, mostly targeting police stations.
Police said that Miran Police Station has been the main target, suffering 11 attacks, the highest number in the area. Anwar Khattak, who served as the Station House Officer (SHO) of Miran Police Station during the last six months, told Khabar Kada that when the first attack happened, they had no idea a drone was involved. Later, it was discovered that a bomb had been dropped inside the station through a drone.
After realizing the nature of the threat, Anwar Khattak said he increased the number of police personnel at the station and began using snipers and 12-bore rifles to shoot down drones in the air. He added that during his posting, the station came under 11 drone attacks, and he himself faced three additional attacks while traveling on duty.
Why Miran Police Station is Frequently Targeted
Police explained that Miran Police Station is located near North Waziristan, close to the Afghan border. Terrorists often escape through this route after carrying out attacks, making it a strategic target. However, police say that operations against militants are ongoing, and several armed terrorists have been killed in counteractions.
Police Response and Defence Measures
Police officials revealed that anti-drone weapons have now been supplied to several police stations in Bannu and other southern districts. These weapons can shoot down drones during flight. Some police stations have also been provided with signal jammers that can block drone communication signals within a few kilometres.
How Terrorists Obtain Drones
According to journalist Taimur Ahmad, who monitors militant activities, most of the drones used by terrorists are smuggled into Pakistan through Afghanistan. He said that after NATO forces withdrew in 2022, they left behind weapons worth around $7 billion, including small drones. These weapons later reached black markets, where terrorist groups acquired them and are now using them for attacks inside Pakistan.
Civilian Casualties and Possible Reasons
Police data from Peshawar shows that out of more than 40 drone attacks in Bannu, many targeted civilians, including women and children. Experts have given two main reasons for this:
The terrorists are not properly trained to operate drones, so bombs often fall before reaching their targets. The second reason is that the drones used are small and overloaded with explosives, causing them to crash prematurely, often hitting houses or playgrounds instead.
Limited Resources and Challenges
Experts point out that the police in Bannu still lack modern weapons and equipment and are fighting terrorists with very limited resources. They have urged the provincial government and the police department to ensure that every police station in southern districts is equipped with anti-drone rifles and jammers to minimize loss of life and property.
SHO Anwar Khattak said that the police remain fully prepared, working alongside other security forces to eliminate terrorism and protect the people from further attacks.
