Pakistan Installs Fishing Nets at Security Outposts to Counter Drone Attacks

In Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police have begun installing fishing nets at security outposts to defend against drone attacks by armed groups. This low-cost solution aims to protect checkpoints frequently targeted by groups like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Local police in Hangu district adopted this method after a drone attack in April, which resulted in the death of an officer. Officers hope the nets can either trap drones or reduce the impact of explosions.

Highlights

• Pakistan is deploying fishing nets at police stations and checkpoints in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to combat drone attacks.
• This low-cost measure is a response to the increasing number of attacks by armed groups, particularly the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
• A drone attack in Hangu in April, which killed a police officer, prompted the implementation of this new security measure.
• Local police report no new drone attacks at locations where nets have been installed.
• The cost to cover a standard checkpoint with these nets is approximately 400,000 Pakistani Rupees (around $1,435).

Details

Police officer Fayyaz Khan from Hangu recounted a seven-hour attack on the Sarki Piyala checkpoint in April, which resulted in the death of an armored vehicle driver and injuries to a constable. In response, the police devised a system of fishing nets strung several meters overhead between rooftops and perimeter walls, creating an aerial ceiling. According to local police, the nets were installed two months ago, and since then, no drone attacks have occurred at Sarki Piyala.

Tariq Habib, the Hangu district police officer, stated that the netting system was introduced at vulnerable police stations and checkpoints to mitigate the impact of drone and quadcopter attacks. Habib added that they have requested additional funding from the provincial government to expand the program, and the request is under review. A spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police confirmed that nets have been installed at checkpoints and police posts in at least five other vulnerable districts, including Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, and Dera Ismail Khan.

Why it matters

This measure is significant as armed groups in Pakistan have shifted tactics, increasingly using drones in conjunction with gunfire and mortars. The country has seen a rise in armed attacks in recent years, primarily targeting police and military personnel. While experts suggest the nets might offer a "false sense of security" and emphasize the need for better drone interception capabilities, this low-cost approach provides security forces with at least a psychological reassurance and the hope of reducing potential damage. Police claim that a formal trial in Kohat showed an explosive dropped on a net did not detonate.