The federal government has banned all drone flying across Pakistan as tensions escalate along the western border with Afghanistan, a notification from the Ministry of Interior said on Friday.
Under the directive, all commercial and private unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — including recreational drones and quadcopters, are prohibited from operating over the country, officials said, citing heightened security risks amid ongoing border clashes.
The move follows intense hostilities between Pakistani security forces and Afghan Taliban fighters, which officials say have included cross-border exchanges and concerns over aerial incidents.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government also issued a 30-day ban on outdoor drone flying within the province, warning that drones could pose a direct threat to public safety and critical infrastructure during the heightened security environment.
KP’s Home and Tribal Affairs Department said the ban covers both regulated and unregulated drone activity, excluding only government and law-enforcement use, such as operations by intelligence and security agencies.
Officials urged the public to avoid outdoor gatherings near sensitive installations and advised government departments to review and enhance security arrangements.
Similar restrictions on drone flying were previously imposed in Punjab province, where authorities cited risks to public safety in light of the ongoing border situation.
The nationwide ban comes amid Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, Pakistan’s ongoing military response to what Islamabad says were unprovoked attacks by the Afghan Taliban regime along the border.