Small Wars Journal: Drones Become New Weapon for Taliban Against Pakistan

An article published in Small Wars Journal states that small drones, known as quadcopters, have played a decisive role in guerrilla warfare and Taliban operations against Pakistan, rendering Pakistani security forces vulnerable.

The piece reports that groups labeled as terrorist organizations, including Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), are employing this technology primarily for psychological operations. In recent days, multiple drone attacks have struck government facilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which were established to secure the region against cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan.

According to the authors, such attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are not novel, but evolving tactics indicate a more lethal underlying infrastructure. This includes the adaptation of commercially available small drones for insurgent purposes. These quadcopters can fly hundreds of meters, bypass ground obstacles and conduct remote strikes, allowing operators to remain secure.

The journal's article argues that drones introduce a newer, more sophisticated threat, necessitating a serious strategic reassessment in counter-terrorism efforts. Militant groups in Pakistan, encompassing jihadists and ethnic-nationalist separatists in Balochistan, remain in early stages of drone utilization. However, the ease of access and open arms market in Afghanistan facilitate their weapon procurement.

The authors note that these groups, equipped with U.S.-origin weapons such as rifles, night-vision devices and electronic gear, are battle-hardened and supported by the Taliban in Afghanistan. They predict these militants could conduct shocking strikes on targets at will in coming months.

The article poses whether Pakistan can respond effectively, stating that Islamabad has moved beyond initial phases and requires a multi-pronged strategy. It describes the challenge as a race against time for Pakistan's government, with drone-using armed groups representing a new form of asymmetric unconventional warfare. If not halted in its nascent stage, containment will prove difficult. The coming year is deemed critical for countering networked terrorism reliant on psychological operations and drone strikes, warning that current tactics against northwest Pakistan attacks may not suffice otherwise.