SECURITY — June 20, 2026
Former Afghan National Security Chief Claims India Cooperates with Taliban on Drone Manufacturing
Ahmad Zia Siraj stated that the Taliban buy commercial drones and adapt them to carry explosives, citing unconfirmed reports of Indian assistance in basic capabilities. He labeled the Taliban's reported drone strikes in Pakistan's Balochistan as propaganda.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Afghanistan International — 2 min read
Ahmad Zia Siraj, Afghanistan's former national security chief, claimed that the Taliban acquire commercial drones and modify them for use in attacks, with possible support from India in developing basic capabilities.
According to Siraj, the group purchases drones from open markets and equips them to carry between two and four kilograms of explosives. He pointed to unconfirmed reports suggesting that India has supplied the Taliban with fundamental drone technology.
Siraj rejected the Taliban's statements about launching drone strikes on Islamic State positions in Pakistan's Balochistan region. He characterized these assertions as propaganda designed to mislead the public and alleviate internal pressures facing the group.
Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting verified that its security forces downed a rudimentary Taliban drone close to Shinco in the Khyber district. No damage or injuries resulted from the event.
Records from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project show a minimum of 12 instances of Taliban drone attacks within Pakistani territory beginning in February.
An Afghanistan International reporter based in Delhi verified that medical care was provided in India to at least one injured Taliban combatant. The Taliban have also created facilities for assembling drones in Kabul and additional provinces following their assumption of authority.
Read the original reporting at Afghanistan International →
Reliability assessment
Single outlet but multiple direct on-record attributions from named figures (Ahmad Zia Siraj, Pakistan Ministry of Information) and cited data from ACLED; core claims of statements and incidents are verifiable as reported speech and documented events.
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Afghanistan International: "for 'deceiving' the people and 'reducing internal pressures'", "merely for 'propaganda use'", "colluding with India to disrupt the country's security" - these phrases frame the Taliban's actions with skeptical and accusatory language suggesting deception and illicit collaboration without presenting counter-evidence.
Independent web corroboration
An independent web search turned up no separate corroborating reports. Treat the account as single-sourced until more outlets pick it up.
Across the newsrooms
Filed by
Afghanistan International
Originating
Framed
Framed
Filed under
Security — Taliban, Drones, Pakistan, India, Ahmad Zia Siraj
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