Pak drones target Jammu region’s open terrain

The Jammu region has boundaries with Pakistan as both the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) and thus has remained a target since the wars of 1965 and 1971.

Jammu witnessed drone attacks for the second consecutive day on Friday when multiple UAVs from Pakistan were intercepted by the air defence system, in different parts, in the evening. Locals claimed they saw some drones going towards the Vaishno Devi shrine but were intercepted midway.

The attack, as per initial information, was faced by Jammu and Samba districts, both on the IB with Pakistan.

The Muslim-dominated Rajouri and Poonch along the LoC host a tough topography and Pakistan thus seems to be avoiding sending UAVs there. On the other hand, Jammu, Kathua and Samba, being in the plains, provide better terrain for Pakistan to send drones over.

On a visit to the border areas of these three districts, one can see Pakistani farmers cultivating their lands.

The killing of four Sikhs among 13 others in Poonch district during heavy shelling on May 7, when a gurdwara was also damaged, caused widespread anger among the community.

Pakistan has not indulged in any misadventure with drones in the Kashmir region, apparently due to political reasons. While Pakistan might now be sending multiple drones to target infrastructure in Jammu, this is not for the first time the region has been targeted. Since 2023, different districts of the region were rocked by terror attacks by highly-trained Pakistani militants.

Many civilians, including seven of the Hindu community became victims of targeted killing in Rajouri district in January 2023. Further, nine Hindu pilgrims were killed in Reasi district in another targeted attack on a bus in June 2024.