According to officials familiar with the developments, the drone intrusions are being viewed not as isolated violations but as part of a coordinated military strategy aimed at probing India’s air defence preparedness. Flying at low altitudes and often with small radar signatures, the drones are difficult to detect using conventional surveillance systems.
Of the drones intercepted so far, five were found carrying weapons or war-related material, while nearly 160 were used to drop consignments of varying nature. Around 72 drones were carrying narcotics, indicating the dual use of aerial platforms for both military reconnaissance and cross-border smuggling. Defence sources confirmed that 12 drone infiltration incidents have already been recorded in January alone.
The primary role of most drones, officials said, was surveillance. By tracking troop deployment and movement patterns, Pakistan is believed to be attempting to identify vulnerabilities and possible routes for terrorist infiltration. India has formally lodged protests over the repeated intrusions during Director General-level hotline talks, raising concerns over regional security and escalation risks.
In response, the Indian Army and Air Force have accelerated efforts to strengthen counter-drone capabilities. The Army is set to induct indigenous handheld anti-drone jammers developed by defence firm IG Drones, while 16 anti-drone laser systems designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are being procured for deployment along the Pakistan border and the Line of Control (LoC).
Drone sightings have also increased along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, with at least five incidents reported in the past two weeks. Security forces activated anti-drone systems in each case, forcing the drones to retreat towards Pakistani territory. Recent sightings were reported in Kathua, Ramgarh, Rajouri, Nowshera, Dharamsal, Reasi, Samba and Poonch’s Mankote sector.
Officials said the evolving drone threat underscores the need for layered air defence and faster technological adaptation. While India’s interception rate remains high, the volume and persistence of drone incursions reflect a changing character of cross-border hostility, with unmanned systems increasingly central to modern conflict dynamics.
