Pakistani Drone Intrusion Threats Persists in 2026 on Indo-Pak Border
Pakistan drone intrusions India witnessed no slowdown at the start of the new year, as Indian Army troops detected and intercepted a suspected Pakistani drone along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on January 1, 2026. The drone reportedly crossed into Indian territory in the Khadi Karmada area, hovered for over five minutes, and dropped a suspicious payload before retreating.
Security forces immediately launched a search operation and recovered a bag containing an improvised explosive device concealed in a tiffin box, along with ammunition and narcotics. Army personnel fired at the drone, forcing it to withdraw across the LoC. The recovery has heightened security concerns, particularly given the use of explosives rather than the more common narcotics-only payloads.
December 30 Incident Signals Continuity of Aerial Provocations
The January 1 incursion follows a similar incident reported just two days earlier. On December 30, 2025, a suspicious drone was observed hovering for several minutes around 7:30 PM in the Phulpur area of Samba district, close to the International Border.
Although no payload was recovered and the drone’s origin could not be conclusively established, security agencies treated the sighting as part of an established cross-border pattern. Investigations were launched, and aerial surveillance in the region was intensified. Officials noted that such hovering tactics are often used to test response times or facilitate later drops.
2025 Drone Intrusions: Official Data Confirms Sustained Threat
Official figures released by the Ministry of Defence and the Border Security Force (BSF) confirm that 2025 saw one of the highest levels of drone activity along the western border in recent years. According to verified data, 791 drone intrusions were recorded along the Indo-Pak border during the calendar year.
Of these, 237 drones were neutralised using a mix of jammers, spoofers, and kinetic counter-drone measures. In addition, the BSF reported 1,816 drone sightings between October 2024 and October 2025, indicating a volume of aerial activity far exceeding confirmed intrusions.
While recent official briefings did not provide a region-wise or payload-wise breakdown, historically recovered drones have carried narcotics, small arms, ammunition, and explosives, a pattern consistently observed since 2020.
Operation Sindoor: Drone Warfare Reached a Peak in May 2025
Drone usage intensified sharply during the May 2025 India–Pakistan military escalation, following a terror attack that prompted India to launch Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025. Indian forces carried out precision missile strikes on Pakistan-based militant infrastructure.
Pakistan responded with large-scale drone and missile attacks, targeting as many as 36 locations across Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, Amritsar, Srinagar, and other sensitive areas. Intelligence assessments indicate that hundreds of small drones, estimated between 300 and 400, were deployed in an attempt to overwhelm Indian air defence systems.
Indian forces neutralised the majority of these aerial threats. Pakistan later claimed it had destroyed 77 Indian dronesduring the confrontation. Although a ceasefire followed, drone activity did not subside and contributed significantly to the year’s overall intrusion numbers.
Post-Sindoor Developments Raise Regional Security Concerns
Recent intelligence inputs suggest Pakistan has since deployed additional anti-drone systems along the LoC, reportedly installing 35 units under eight brigades opposite Rawalakot, Kotli, and Bhimber. These measures are believed to be driven by fears of a potential “Operation Sindoor 2.0.”
Pakistan has also fast-tracked arms procurement from China and Turkey, including reported acquisitions of 300 Fatah-1 rockets. Parallel reports indicate increased Pakistani drone activity along its western frontier with Afghanistan, particularly in Zhob and Chaman, amid counter-terror operations.
Islamabad continues to deny involvement in smuggling-related drone intrusions into India, frequently counter-alleging Indian airspace violations.
High Alert Continues as 2026 Begins
With the January 1 Poonch incident, security agencies assess that Pakistan drone intrusions India faces have carried into 2026 without interruption. While no consolidated data for the new year is yet available, forces along the LoC and International Border remain on high alert.
Officials maintain that the evolving payload profile, especially the recovery of explosive devices, signals a shift from pure smuggling operations to potential terror-linked objectives, warranting enhanced surveillance and counter-drone readiness across border districts.
