Pakistan-backed terror groups acquire aerial assets, says report amid drone sightings at borders

Days after reports of drone sightings along the Line of Control (LoC) alarmed security officials, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Khalistani extremist groups have reportedly acquired paragliders and associated equipment, raising concerns about India’s security.

According to News18, a detailed report has been prepared documenting all the latest activities of aerial threats and activities that will serve to prepare comprehensive, multi-agency, multi-force counter-arrangements.

Suspected Pakistani drones were sighted along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district on Tuesday, prompting security forces to maintain high alert.

Several drone-like objects were first seen hovering over Dheri Dhara village near the Keri sector around 7:35 pm before moving towards Kalali village. Security agencies opened fire and activated counter-drone measures, after which the objects were observed returning across the border. Monitoring along the LoC has been intensified.

The report indicates that the global use of drones to target world leaders and critical infrastructure is on the rise, marking a significant shift in asymmetric warfare and terrorist strategy. Within this framework, experts noted that Hamas’s deployment of motorised paragliders during its attacks on Israel serves as a prime example of how unconventional tools are being used to circumvent traditional security measures and execute large-scale strikes.

Earlier on Tuesday, an encounter broke out between security forces and suspected militants in Kathua district. Gunfire was reported after forces launched a search operation based on intelligence about militant movement in a remote village.

Officials said intermittent firing came from the Najote forest area of Billawar, about 10 km from the Kamadh nallah in the Kahog forest belt, where a similar exchange occurred on January 7. Suspected militants fired upon observing security forces, who retaliated while moving deeper into the forest. The cordon-and-search operation has been strengthened, and efforts are ongoing to track the militants.

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said India had conveyed a clear warning to Pakistan over the recent UAV sightings, describing such activity as “not acceptable.”