Jammu airbase drone attack: NIA takes over probe, Pakistan's role under scanner

Read - The human cost of drone warfare: A look at some of the world’s biggest drone attacks

Pakistan’s role under scanner

Earlier, News18 had reported that Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) may have been behind the attack, adding that the terror organisation might also have received support from another entity as the attack “could not happen without the active involvement of the Pakistani Army, or ISI”.

Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh had also said that another major strike had been averted when a person, suspected to be affiliated to another Pakistan-based terror outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was arrested along with an improvised explosive device (IED) weighing around 6 kilogram in Jammu. This came at a time when officials were investigating the drone attack at the airbase.

Police registered an FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and relevant sections of the Explosive Substances Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Persons from the NIA told CNN-News18 that the initial investigation into the incident has suggested that the drones came from across the border. It was not immediately clear from where the drones had taken off and investigations were on to ascertain their flight path, the report added citing NIA officials.

The Hindustan Times reported on June 28 citing an unnamed senior security official that the air traffic control (ATC) tower was being targeted with one drone and the other was aiming at either a parked IAF helicopter or the radar.

The ceasefire between India and Pakistan has largely been maintained along the Line of Control (LoC) since February. However, Pakistan Rangers had reportedly violated the ceasefire along the international borders in Ramgarh sector of Samba, Jammu and Kashmir on May 3. India’s Border Security Force (BSF) said it retaliated to the violation. No loss of life was reported.

Read: First-ever drone attack in India marks dangerous new turning point in Kashmir terror