Pak shifted 72 terror launchpads from border areas after Op Sindoor, says BSF

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday said Pakistan has shifted more than 60 terror launchpads to “depth areas” after Operation Sindoor, and the force is ready to inflict heavy losses on the enemy if the government decides to resume the cross-border operation.

“After the BSF destroyed many terror launchpads along the border during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan government shifted all such facilities to the depth areas. About 12 launchpads are working from the depth areas of Sialkot and Zaffarwal, which are not exactly on the border.

“Similarly, 60 launchpads are working in the other depth areas away from the border,” BSF DIG Vikram Kunwar told reporters here. These launchpads are used to push infiltrators into Indian territory.

Kunwar, along with BSF IG, Jammu Frontier, Shashank Anand, and DIG Kulwant Sharma addressed a joint press conference on the occasion of the BSF’s 61st Raising Day. He highlighted the achievements of the force in 2025, including its role in Operation Sindoor.

He added that the number of active launchpads fluctuates as they are activated based on infiltration requirements. “There are no training camps close to the IB,” he clarified.

Kunwar also noted that earlier, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) operated separate terror camps, but these have now merged into mixed groups.

Anand said that the severe flooding in Jammu in August caused significant damage to border infrastructure, including the barbed fence along Pakistan. “This is not the first time such damage has occurred; we know how to recover quickly. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Jammu, and we briefed him about the situation. We assured him that normalcy would be restored—and today, we are better prepared than before the floods,” Anand said.

He added that all vulnerable infiltration-prone areas have been secured. “The height of the barbed fence has been raised in these sectors, and surveillance has been strengthened. BSF jawans maintain round-the-clock vigilance,” he said.

Responding to a query on narco-smuggling via drones, the IG said the drug trade is directly linked to terrorism. “The government is deeply concerned and has adopted a 360-degree approach. Some individuals within India assist anti-national elements. We are addressing the challenge of drone-based smuggling and taking additional steps to counter it. Terrorism and narcotics cannot be viewed in isolation,” he said.

Highlighting the increasing reliance on drones in modern warfare, Anand noted that conflicts worldwide are exploiting aerial technologies. “Cross-border drone smuggling began in 2019. The BSF has since procured counter-drone systems and trained troops extensively. This is an ongoing research and development process, and we are working closely with industry partners. Aerial threats will remain a critical component of future conflicts,” he said.

BSF Jammu is responsible for guarding around 200 km of the IB with Pakistan and is also deployed along the LoC jointly with the Army. In 2025, the force played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor while simultaneously countering cross-border firing, infiltration attempts, drug trafficking, and drone activity.

During this year’s floods, BSF personnel also rescued 69 civilians. The force continues to provide training to Village Defence Guards (VDGs) across the region.