Suspected Pakistani Drones Detected Over Jammu and Kashmir, Army Responds With Heightened Vigilance

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir were placed on a high state of alert after multiple suspected Pakistani drones were sighted hovering over sensitive areas along the International Border and the Line of Control. The incidents, reported on Sunday evening, mark yet another episode in a growing pattern of unmanned aerial intrusions from across the border, raising concerns about surveillance, infiltration, and arms smuggling attempts.

According to official sources, the drones briefly entered Indian airspace in different sectors before retreating towards Pakistan. The sightings occurred almost simultaneously across multiple border districts, indicating coordinated activity rather than isolated movement.

Representational image. PTI File | Firstpost

Army Opens Fire in Rajouri Sector

In the Nowshera sector of Rajouri district, Indian Army troops spotted a drone hovering near the forward areas close to the Line of Control. The object was observed over the Gania–Kalsian area during the evening hours, prompting soldiers to respond by opening fire using standard weapons as per established security protocols. A short while later, another drone-like object with blinking lights was seen in the nearby Teryath area, reinforcing suspicions of cross-border reconnaissance.

The Army’s swift response was aimed at preventing any potential drop of arms, explosives, or communication equipment, tactics that have been employed in previous drone-based operations originating from Pakistan.

Multiple Sightings Across Samba and Poonch

Similar drone activity was reported in Samba district, where a suspected unmanned aerial vehicle hovered for several minutes over Chak Babral village in the Ramgarh sector. In Poonch district, another object was seen moving from Tain towards the Topa area in the Mankote sector, once again close to the Line of Control.

These sightings across geographically separate locations within a short time frame significantly heightened security concerns, prompting coordinated action from multiple security agencies.

Search Operations and Security Measures

Following the sightings, joint search operations involving the Indian Army, local police, and other security agencies were launched across the affected areas. Ground teams were deployed to scan fields, villages, and forested terrain to rule out the possibility of drone-dropped weapons, narcotics, or communication devices.

While no suspicious material linked directly to Sunday’s drone movements has been recovered so far, officials confirmed that search operations continued late into the night as a precautionary measure. Forward posts along the border were also instructed to maintain enhanced surveillance.

Drone Threat and Recent Recoveries

The latest incidents come at a time when security agencies are already on edge due to recent recoveries of drone-dropped arms consignments in Jammu region. Just days earlier, security forces had recovered weapons and ammunition in Samba district, believed to have been delivered via drones from across the border. Such recoveries have reinforced long-standing concerns about the use of drones by Pakistan-based terror networks to bypass traditional border security mechanisms.

Over the past few years, drones have increasingly been used for reconnaissance, smuggling of arms and narcotics, and aiding infiltration attempts, presenting a complex challenge for counter-terrorism efforts in the region.

The MGMM Outlook

The repeated detection of suspected Pakistani drones over multiple sectors of Jammu and Kashmir points to a deliberate and coordinated attempt to probe India’s border security architecture. The near-simultaneous sightings across Rajouri, Samba, and Poonch indicate planning rather than chance, reinforcing concerns that drones are being used as a low-risk, high-impact tool for reconnaissance and potential delivery of arms or communication equipment. Such aerial intrusions reflect an evolving strategy to bypass traditional border defenses, exploiting technological gaps while maintaining plausible deniability at the diplomatic level.

The Indian Army’s swift response, including opening fire and launching extensive search operations, underscores the seriousness with which these threats are being treated. Recent recoveries of drone-dropped weapons in the Jammu region further strengthen the assessment that these platforms are integral to cross-border terror logistics. Even when no immediate recovery is made, the psychological and security implications remain significant, demanding sustained vigilance, improved counter-drone capabilities, and tighter intelligence coordination to ensure that such incursions do not translate into on-ground terror activity or destabilization along the border.

(Sources: Firstpost, Moneycontrol, India Today)