BSF seized 200 drones at Punjab border this year, claims Pak trying to ‘destabilise’ India with drugs
PTC News Desk: The Border Security Force (BSF) intercepted at least 200 rogue drones along Punjab's International Border this year. There were 107 drones recovered in 2023.
According to BSF records, since November 1 of this year, the BSF has shot down or recovered 11 drones from fields near border settlements and captured around 3 kg of narcotics.
These drones, which originate in Pakistan, are used to carry weapons, drugs, and other contraband, posing severe security issues because they are difficult to detect over large areas, particularly at night. Punjab's international border spans 553 km. Though most of it is secured, there are some riverine areas along the Sutlej and Ravi rivers that are difficult to guard. This border, commonly known as the International Border (IB), extends across Jammu (in Jammu and Kashmir), Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
The BSF said that it seized 107 drones along the Punjab border in 2023, a figure that has nearly doubled this year. The BSF described the increase in drone captures as a "significant landmark" and a "remarkable milestone," attributing it to "enhanced anti-drone strategies" and the implementation of advanced technology countermeasures across borders.
The army has strengthened anti-drone efforts, dealing a significant blow to Pakistani narcotics groups that attempt to sneak arms and drugs into Indian territory with the goal of "destabilising" communities by fostering drug addiction among youth and "disintegrating" societal cohesion.
According to a senior BSF official, the 200-plus drones intercepted this year included those shot down by BSF soldiers, others jammed mid-flight using anti-drone equipment, and some recovered on the ground as a result of intelligence leads or local information. According to the officer, the majority of these drones are manufactured in China.
The "drone menace" began in 2019-20 and has been particularly severe in the border areas of Amritsar and Tarn Taran in Punjab. According to BSF authorities, practically all drugs carried from Pakistan into Punjab are being transported by drones, as compared to earlier methods that involved pipes set up across the border or objects thrown over the fence.
- PTC NEWS
