Following Operation Sindoor, there was a brief period of relative calm, but now Indian security forces are dealing with a fresh threat along the border: more sophisticated Pakistani drones. Agencies are on high alert due to recent drone sightings and seizures in Punjab's Amritsar district, and there is growing concern about how this cross-border threat is changing.
The new drones entering Indian airspace are more technologically sophisticated than previous models, allowing them to fly higher and penetrate farther into Indian territory. Since these UAVs now fly in zigzag, non-linear patterns, it is more difficult to identify them with traditional surveillance systems that use visual and auditory cues.
In a recent incident, the Border Security Force (BSF) intercepted six Pakistani drones near the International Border in Punjab. Following this, the BSF recovered four packets containing three pistols and 1.070 kilograms of heroin. The BSF stated that 'reliable input and keen observation followed by swift action of troops once again thwarted the attempts of Pakistan-based smugglers to pump drugs and arms into Punjab.'
Return of Pakistani smugglers post-Sindoor
The lull in drone activity had followed India's strong military response in Operation Sindoor, conducted in retaliation to the Pulwama terror attack. Pakistani terror handlers and smugglers had reduced their activities during this time. They have, however, returned in recent months with increased ferocity and more powerful drones, raising concerns about drone-based infiltration and trafficking.
These drones are frequently made to crash on Indian soil after delivering their payload, which makes it harder to retrieve data and less likely that their origin can be traced. The majority of them are manufactured in China, which adds to their sophistication and makes detection more difficult.
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ISI’s expanding role in drone-based infiltration
The situation has been further complicated by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan, which has intensified support to terror outfits like Jaish-e-Muhammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba. The ISI has heavily encouraged the use of drones to not only smuggle arms and narcotics but also to assist real-time monitoring during infiltration attempts.
These drones are now being employed for aerial reconnaissance, helping infiltrators avoid surveillance and navigate pitfalls along the route. In a recent June meeting between ISI officials and terrorist group leaders, a decision was made to ramp up both recruitment and infiltration, especially after heavy militant casualties during Operation Sindoor.
However, conventional infiltration is now practically impossible due to the current level of Indian military vigilance, which forces terror groups to heavily rely on drone technology in order to cross the border.
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India has started countermeasures
Given the changing dynamics, Indian authorities are now thinking about deploying sophisticated drone interceptors that can track UAVs in real time. Due to the limitations of existing systems, which primarily rely on visual and acoustic confirmation, this action was taken.
Pakistan's drone network is a pan-border threat that poses a security risk not just in Punjab but also in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian forces continue to be on high alert in anticipation of what may turn out to be a protracted battle with aerial incursions in the future, given the ISI's growing reliance on drones for both intelligence and logistics.
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