Police have started fortifying posts with nets to protect personnel from aerial attacks and drones, says a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police official. White nets stretch high across the front of brick buildings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a tactic borrowed from the Ukrainian battlefield to protect police against the latest militant threat: drones. Resembling fishing nets, the mesh lacks the sophistication of other military hardware. Their use shows how lessons from the war in Ukraine are reverberating on distant fronts such as Pakistan, where security forces are improvising new defences against insurgents armed with cheap, easily obtainable devices.
"These drones are easily available in markets, and with a bit of modification, a kit for dropping shells can be installed. So it is quite easy, and everyone has access to them," KP District Police Officer Waqar Ahmad said. "We have started installing these nets to protect our personnel from aerial attacks and to reduce the risk of attacks involving drones." Made from extra-durably twisted thread, the bespoke, reinforced nets can scupper attacks by entangling enemy drones or catching munitions high above compounds.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan, is experiencing a growing insurgency by the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with dozens of police killed in attacks on checkpoints this year. Police are playing catch-up against the militant group, which has deployed drones extensively in attacks since 2024. Drones are readily available at specialised electronics shops across the province and have become a vital part of the banned TTP's attack toolkit.
Police are racing to harness the technology, putting on training courses and stocking up on machines and counter-drone devices such as handheld jammers. Last month, the KP Police UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) Division held its first-ever drone course, with 52 participants. Officials hope these improvised measures, combined with modern tactical training, will significantly reduce casualties moving forward.