BSF also played active role in countering Pakistani drones during Operation Sindoor

The Border Security Force (BSF) also played an active part in countering the threat from Pakistani drones during Operation Sindoor and held the fort during ceasefire violations along the border.

The counter-unmanned systems of the BSF were also deployed and integrated into the air defence network of the armed forces in neutralising the drones, Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai said during a media briefing on Monday.

BSF personnel, from the top levels to the last man on the border outposts, were actively involved in the conduct of the operation, he added.

A BSF official, Sub-Inspector Mohammad Imteyaz ws killed in action during cross border shelling.

Termed as the first line of defence, BSF is responsible for the peace time management of the International Border with Pakistan as well as Bangladesh. It is also co-deployed with the Army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

BSF’ Western Command, headquartered at Chandigarh, is tasked for deployment and operations along the border with Pakistan. It is divided into five frontiers – Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab, which are responsible of the International Border, and Jammu and Kashmir Frontiers that are responsible for deployment along the LoC.

Each frontier is head by an officer of the rank of Inspector General and has several battalions under it, which maintain a network of border outposts in their respective sector.

Over the past few years, the BSF has been facing the challenge of smuggling narcotics and weapons from Pakistan through drones.

Punjab is the most active frontier for this activity, accounting for the largest proportion of drones, drugs and weapons seized in the vicinity of the border. Most of the drones recovered are China-made small sized quadcopters that can carry a payload of less than 1 kg.

To check this menace, BSF began deploying anti-drone systems along the border. These are of different types that can detect and neutralise the intruding drones by monitoring and jamming the radio frequencies that link the platform to its controller. Till the end of April, over 70 drones were neutralised by the BSF.

There are other methods like guns that offer a hard kill option. The BSF has been reviewing and revising its protocols and operating procedures to detect and neutralise hostile drones.

Every seized drone is forensically examined to determine its place of origin, flight path and destination, which helps the BSF to identify hotspots and devise a counter strategy accordingly. Special laboratories have been set up in Delhi and Punjab for this purpose.

In addition, BSF remained on a state of high along the border since India announced retribution for the attack by Pakistan-backed terrorists at Pahalgam that killed 26 persons on April 22.

Vigil along the borders was stepped up and patrolling was intensified. In Jammu and Kashmir, BSF also responded to ceasefire agreement violations by Pakistan that had become a daily affair since April 22.