Pakistani drone crosses LoC in Poonch, drops suspected explosives, ammunition and narcotics

The incident comes amid heightened security across the Valley ahead of New Year celebrations.

• Pakistani drone dropped explosives, ammo, and drugs in Poonch, J&K
• Indian Army and police launch major search after drone incursion.
• Security forces intensified checks and surveillance across Jammu region

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A Pakistani drone crossed into Indian territory along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, dropping suspected explosive material, ammunition and narcotics, triggering massive search operations by security forces, according to a report by News18.

Official sources told News18 that the drone entered Indian airspace in the Khadi Karmada area of Poonch and remained inside the territory for over five minutes before returning across the LoC. During the incursion, it dropped a consignment that included an improvised explosive device (IED), ammunition and drugs, raising serious security concerns in the sensitive border district.

Search operations launched

Soon after the drone movement was detected, the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched extensive cordon and search operations in Khadi Karmada and adjoining areas to recover the dropped material and rule out any possible terrorist movement on the ground.

A video purportedly showing the items dropped by the drone has surfaced, according to News18. Security agencies are closely examining the recovered material as part of their investigation to assess the nature of the threat posed by the drone activity.

The incident comes amid heightened security across the Jammu region ahead of New Year celebrations. As part of intensified anti-terror measures, surveillance and ground checks have been stepped up, particularly in border areas and forested hinterlands.

According to a PTI report, security forces on Tuesday launched cordon and search operations along border areas and the mountainous hinterland of Poonch and Kishtwar districts following specific intelligence inputs.

Acting on information about the presence of two terrorist groups in the Doda-Kishtwar forest areas, security forces launched an operation in the Keshwan–Chatroo valley after inputs suggested a terrorist movement. Troops deployed drones and other aerial surveillance equipment to track the suspects.

Reports cited by PTI said two groups of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, with two to three operatives in each group, are believed to be operating in the region, which has witnessed multiple encounters in the past.

In Poonch, the Army’s Romeo Force also carried out search operations at Khanetar Top along the Indo-Pak border and nearby areas. Troops were assisted by aerial surveillance and sniffer dogs.

Additionally, security forces have intensified vehicle checking along the Pathankot–Jammu–Srinagar national highway in Kathua, Samba, Jammu and Udhampur districts as part of the heightened alert.