BSF foils Pak attempt to drop arms using drones along Jammu border

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 24

The Border Security Force (BSF) today foiled Pakistan’s attempt to airdrop arms and ammunition by drones along the International Border (IB) when alert troops opened fire on two such flying objects on entering the Indian airspace in the Arnia sector of Jammu & Kashmir, a spokesperson for the force said.

Officials in the force said both drones returned to Pakistani side after the BSF fired around 15 rounds in an attempt to bring them down between 4.30 am and 4.45 am.

Pakistan has recently been using drones to drop weapons and drugs with the latest attempt coming at a time when there is peace on the borders in Jammu and Kashmir after India and Pakistan agreed to uphold the 2003 ceasefire agreement from the intervening night of February 24 and 25.

“Two drones were spotted hovering in Jabbowal and Vikram border outpost areas in Arnia this morning. Both drones returned to Pakistani side after the alert BSF personnel fired on them,” a senior BSF official here at the headquarters said.

Later, the entire area was cordoned off and a search operation was carried out to ensure that there was no dropping from the drones before returning to Pakistan, the official said, adding that so far nothing objectionable could be found on the ground. On June 20 last year, the BSF shot down a Pakistani hexa-copter drone with a payload of five-and-a-half kg, including a sophisticated US-made M4 semi-automatic carbine and seven Chinese grenades at the Pansar border outpost in Kathua district.

Personnel fired 15 rounds

• The unmanned aerial vehicles were spotted hovering in Jabbowal and Vikram border outpost area between 4.30 am and 4.45 am
• They returned to Pakistani side after the alert BSF personnel fired around 15 rounds in an attempt to bring them down, officials said