A drone suspected to have come from Pakistan was spotted hovering over forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, prompting security forces to launch a search operation in the area early Saturday, officials said.
Where the Drone Was Spotted
According to officials, the drone was first seen in the Behrooti village area of Balakote, in the Mendhar sector, late Friday evening. It reportedly moved toward the Mangalnar-Dabrote side near the border before eventually heading back into Pakistan.
Army's Response
Army troops guarding the LoC intensified surveillance following the sighting and launched a search operation in the area at first light on Saturday. Given the sensitive nature of forward border areas, this kind of sighting typically prompts an immediate, cautious response, both to assess whether anything was dropped or left behind, and to reinforce monitoring in case of further activity.
A Recurring Pattern Along the Border
Drone sightings along the LoC and the broader India-Pakistan border have become a recurring security concern in recent years, often linked to attempts to smuggle weapons, narcotics, or other contraband across the border. While officials haven't confirmed the specific purpose behind this particular sighting, the search operation launched immediately afterward reflects the standard precautionary response security forces now follow whenever unidentified aerial activity is detected near the LoC.
FAQs
Q1. Where exactly was the suspected drone spotted?
In the Behrooti village area of Balakote, in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir.
Q2. What did the drone reportedly do after being spotted?
It moved toward the Mangalnar-Dabrote side near the border before returning to Pakistan.
Q3. What action did security forces take?
Army troops guarding the LoC intensified surveillance and launched a search operation in the area at first light on Saturday.