India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has reported a significant increase in drones carrying weapons from Pakistan since Operation Sindoor earlier this year. Speaking ahead of the BSF’s 61st Raising Day, Inspector General Atul Fulzele highlighted that such aerial smuggling attempts have surged along the Punjab border, reflecting the evolving tactics of cross-border threats where drones are increasingly used to bypass security measures.

Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, involved Indian forces targeting nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including Jaish-e-Mohammed locations in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba bases in Muridke. The strikes were in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Pakistan responded with three days of shelling before a ceasefire, but BSF intelligence indicates that over 70 terror launchpads have since been moved deeper inland to avoid future strikes.

Along the Punjab frontier this year, BSF troops guarding a 553-km stretch across six districts recovered over 200 firearms, including pistols and AK-47s, 265 magazines, 3,625 bullets, 10 kg of explosives, and 12 grenades. They also intercepted 272 drones and seized large drug consignments, including 368 kg of heroin, 19 tonnes of methamphetamine, and 14 kg of opium. Three Pakistani intruders were neutralized, and several more suspects were arrested.

The surge in drone-borne weapon drops after Operation Sindoor signals a tactical shift, with Pakistan attempting to arm militants without engaging in direct confrontation. Drone incursions, which began around 2019, mirror global trends in low-cost aerial warfare seen in conflicts such as those in Ukraine and the Middle East. BSF’s counter-drone technology and enhanced patrols have been effective, but experts caution that winter fog could create vulnerabilities for future infiltrations.

With active terror launchpads still operational along the Line of Control, the BSF remains on high alert, combining advanced surveillance systems with ground patrols. This situation underscores the importance of proactive operations like Sindoor in countering terror networks that exploit technology to carry out attacks and destabilize the region.