 "Is Bangladesh needling India by operating Turkish drones on border? Security forces keep an eye")
Bangladesh’s military has acquired Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones and is operating them near the Indian border for surveillance. Indian security agencies have observed the drones in operation and are closely monitoring their movements.
ANI cited sources as saying that the drones have been conducting sorties along the border for several months, flying within Bangladeshi territory. The development comes amid concerns over Pakistan’s growing military ties with Bangladesh .
Bayraktar TB2 drones in operation
The Bayraktar TB2 is a tactical armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed and manufactured by Turkish defence firm Baykar.
This advanced system includes the TB2 UAV platform, a ground control station, a ground data terminal, a remote display terminal, and advanced base modules.
The drones have been widely used in military operations worldwide, and are believed to have been a gamechanger in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Their deployment near the Indian border is seen as a significant development. Indian security agencies continue to assess the implications of their use for surveillance activities, according to ANI.
Recent sightings near border
This is not the first time the drones have been spotted near the Indo-Bangladesh border. In December 2024, media reports had indicated that Bangladesh had deployed Bayraktar TB2 drones along the frontier.
Those sightings had come amid tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka in the months following the ouster of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by student-led protesters.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThat same month, authorities in India’s Meghalaya state alerted the central government about unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sightings near the border.
Meghalaya, which shares a 443-kilometer (275-mile) border with Bangladesh, reported drone activity near Sohra and Shella in the East Khasi Hills district, about 200 meters south of the international boundary.
Following these sightings, India intensified surveillance efforts in the region. Indian agencies continue to monitor drone movements along the border, assessing potential security concerns arising from Bangladesh’s new UAV capabilities.
With inputs from agencies
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