2 drones downed in Kohat, videos raise questions over exact interception site

Initial information had placed the incident around seven kilometres outside Kohat city. However, three videos obtained by Minute Mirror appear to show security activity and the aftermath

ISLAMABAD: Security forces have intercepted two suspected Afghan-origin rudimentary drones over Kohat through electronic countermeasures, while newly obtained video footage has raised questions over the exact location where the unmanned aircraft were brought down.

Initial information had placed the incident around seven kilometres outside Kohat city. However, three videos obtained by Minute Mirror appear to show security activity and the aftermath of the incident around Kachery Chowk, a central and heavily populated area of the city.

One of the videos shows several armed men inside what appears to be a district courts compound. The men, dressed in traditional clothing and waistcoats, are carrying rifles as security measures are visibly intensified around the premises. The footage also shows shops with their shutters down, empty bar association rooms and reduced activity inside the courts. Security personnel can be seen checking vehicles near the main entrance.

A second video, identified as footage from Kachery Chowk, shows the busy intersection following the reported drone incident. Local sources familiar with the situation told Minute Mirror that debris from the intercepted drones fell in the vicinity of the chowk, although the exact point of impact has yet to be independently established.

The third video shows heightened security around the area, with armed personnel positioned behind a protective barrier while vehicles are stopped and searched at a checkpoint. The heightened deployment followed reports that two drones had been neutralised.

An eyewitness at Kachery Chowk told Minute Mirror that panic spread after security forces moved into the area and cordoned off parts of the chowk.

“We were at Kachery Chowk when the commotion started. Security forces immediately moved in and we were told that two drones had been hit. This is the main city area, not seven kilometres outside,” the eyewitness said.

A local shopkeeper said businesses closed their shutters following the incident, while activity around the courts was also disrupted.

A senior security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that two rudimentary drones had been neutralised through a “soft-kill” mechanism, referring to electronic countermeasures intended to disrupt or disable unmanned aircraft without physically destroying them.

“The air-defence and counter-drone systems responded effectively. However, the reported proximity of the drones to the city area is being examined,” the source said, adding that surveillance and security readiness remained at a high level.

The incident has also triggered debate among defence commentators over Pakistan’s response to suspected cross-border drone threats. Some analysts have argued that Islamabad needs to adopt a stronger deterrence policy and impose greater costs on groups or authorities responsible for attacks. Others have questioned whether a purely retaliatory approach can provide a sustainable security solution.

One defence analyst argued that Pakistan should move beyond what he described as a cycle of responding only after attacks and develop a more proactive strategy against emerging threats. Another analyst called for greater investment in counter-drone capabilities and improved protection of sensitive locations.

The analysts’ comments reflect differing views over how Pakistan should respond to suspected cross-border attacks, while no official policy change has been announced in response to the Kohat incident.

The exact location of the drone debris remains subject to verification. Minute Mirror has contacted the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and the local administration for an official confirmation regarding the interception site and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Security has meanwhile been tightened around Kachery Chowk and other sensitive locations in Kohat.