KABUL (Kashmir English): A drone that crashed in the mountains near Maidan Shar city of Afghanistan on January 1, 2026, is identified as MQ-9B SkyGuardian, operated by India.
A fixed-wing MALE drone crashed in the snow-covered mountains in Maidan Wardak Province, approximately 40–50 km west/southwest of Kabul.
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, the drone was initially identified by several observers as an Israeli-manufactured Heron UAV, a platform previously associated with Indian surveillance operations in the region.
Subsequent technical analysis of the wreckage has ruled out the Heron, confirming that the aircraft belonged to the MQ-9 drone family. More detailed frame-by-frame inspection of available footage revealed curved, unidirectional winglets on the wings – a design feature unique to the MQ-9B SkyGuardian / SeaGuardian, also referred to as the “Big Wing” MQ-9B.
The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is operated by India, which is the only known regional operator of this variant. India currently operates four MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, procured for long-endurance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
Claims against US, Pakistan denied
Earlier, after the drone crashed, various X accounts falsely claimed that “Afghan forces shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone that entered Afghanistan from Pakistan’s airbase.”
However, no credible international media outlet has reported a US MQ-9 Reaper being shot down, crashed, or lost in Afghanistan in January 2026.
Afghan-based news outlets reported the incident only as an unidentified drone crash in Maidan Wardak province on January 1 without any mention of a shoot-down by Afghan forces. Taliban local authorities issued no official statement.
Moreover, after the Salala incident in November 2011, where NATO airstrikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, Pakistan made the Shamsi airbase vacated by the US by December 11, 2011. The NewYork Times then posted that US drone operations were shifted to Afghan bases.
Some Afghan social media posts claimed the wreckage is an Indian-operated Heron or Indian MQ-9B, used for espionage in Afghan airspace.
