Govt imposes ban on flying drowns amid security threats

ISLAMABAD: The government has established a nationwide prohibition that prevents all drone operations from taking place because of the increasing security threats and the government’s current counterterrorism operations, which protect vital areas.

The Interior Ministry has issued a directive that prohibits all unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations that include commercial, recreational, and agricultural, and privately operated drone activities.

The authorities have issued an order to provincial governments and police departments that requires them to maintain complete adherence to the established rules until they receive new instructions.

Officials warned that any violation of the ban would result in legal action under relevant aviation and anti-terror laws. The authorities consider full control over low-altitude airspace as a main national security element, which has become more important since border threats emerged.

The government has made it necessary for citizens to work together with public authorities so that effective enforcement can take place. All drone operations have received a complete ban, which followed multiple drone incursions at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa security checkpoints.

Security sources reported that militants attempted drone attacks in Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera, escalating tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that Pakistan’s anti-drone defense systems successfully destroyed all incoming aerial threats.

The Fitna al Khawarij terrorists have tried to operate small drones from their bases in Abbottabad, Swabi, and Nowshera. The Anti-Drone Systems have successfully brought down all aerial threats.

The operations resulted in zero human casualties. The incidents have exposed direct linkages between the Afghan Taliban Regime and Terrorism in Pakistan.