DIG Ijaz Ahmad, the Safe Cities Project Director, confirmed that anti-drone systems installed in Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Tank, and Bannu have been connected to the CCTC. The objective, according to Ahmad, is the prompt detection and neutralization of hostile quadcopters. While the police assert that the deployment of modern anti-drone systems has led to a significant decrease in quadcopter attacks, independent verification of this statistical claim is not available. The systems are intended to counter evolving warfare threats, including the use of drones for reconnaissance and the delivery of explosives or ammunition to militants.
In response to the shift in militant tactics, KP Police have established a specialized unit dedicated to drone operations and counter-drone measures, which officials describe as the first of its kind for a police department in Pakistan. Personnel have undergone training in UAV operation, aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering, and electronic countermeasures. The unit is based in Peshawar, with similar groups approved for high-risk districts. Police Chief Zulfiqar Hameed stated that the department plans to acquire more advanced long-range drones capable of operating at greater altitudes to enhance operational reach.
The integration of these technologies addresses a persistent security challenge in the province, where armed groups, primarily Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have utilized drones to attack law enforcement facilities. A notable incident occurred on April 16 of this year at the Sarki Piyala checkpost in Hangu district, where drones carrying explosives were used during an attack that lasted seven hours. That confrontation resulted in the death of an armored vehicle driver and injuries to a constable. In Hangu, local police have also employed a low-cost defensive measure, strung fishing nets overhead at checkposts to physically intercept or mitigate the impact of drone-borne explosives. While this improvised solution has reportedly prevented further drone strikes at the Sarki Piyala post since its installation, it operates separately from the centralized electronic countermeasures being deployed province-wide.
Officials acknowledge that limited internet connectivity in remote areas remains a significant operational hurdle for the centralized monitoring system. Police are collaborating with the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) to improve communication infrastructure in these zones. The initiative aims to standardize the response to aerial threats, moving from localized, single-drone jamming devices to a coordinated network capable of handling simultaneous multi-drone incursions. Future deployments will focus on expanding the satellite of specialized units to districts identified as having the highest threat levels.
