Security forces on Sunday detected suspected drone activity in Kathua, triggering an immediate security response and a large-scale search operation in the area. According to officials, the drone was observed in the airspace for nearly five minutes before disappearing, prompting ground forces to move in swiftly to comb nearby locations and assess the nature and origin of the intrusion.
Following the sighting, multiple security agencies coordinated efforts to trace the drone’s possible launch point and flight path. Search teams were deployed across vulnerable stretches, and surveillance was intensified to rule out any potential threat linked to cross-border infiltration or reconnaissance activity.
The incident in Kathua comes days after a similar suspected drone incursion was reported on January 15 in Samba district. In that case, drones were sighted near Keso Mahansan village in the Ramgarh sector along the International Border. Authorities responded by placing the area on high alert and initiating counter-drone and search measures to prevent any security breach.
Amid the repeated sightings, Upendra Dwivedi, the Chief of Army Staff, stated that India has formally put Pakistan “on notice” over the recent unmanned aerial vehicle movements along the Line of Control. He said New Delhi has clearly conveyed to Islamabad that such activities are unacceptable, especially at a time when heightened vigilance is being maintained under ongoing security operations on the western front.
Speaking at his annual press conference, General Dwivedi revealed that Director General of Military Operations-level talks were held with Pakistan earlier in the week, during which India raised strong objections to the latest drone sightings in Jammu and Kashmir. He said Pakistan had been told in clear terms to rein in such activities, stressing that the Indian Army remains fully alert and prepared to respond decisively to any future provocation or misadventure.
Referring specifically to the nature of the recent drone movements, the Army chief said preliminary assessments suggest they could be small, low-end drones, possibly being used for defensive surveillance to monitor Indian troop movements across the border. He added that security forces are maintaining a high state of readiness, with enhanced monitoring and counter-drone measures in place to ensure that any further intrusion is detected and neutralised swiftly.
