NEW DELHI: India’s army chief on Tuesday said the country had formally conveyed its concerns to Pakistan’s military leadership over alleged drone activity along the frontier in Indian-administered Kashmir, speaking to reporters in New Delhi.
Speaking to reporters at an annual press briefing, Upendra Dwivedi said India had detected multiple drones in recent days and had taken up the matter with Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO).
According to an Indian military source, five drone sightings were reported on Sunday evening in the Jammu region. In a separate incident on Friday, security forces recovered weapons including pistols, ammunition magazines, bullets and a grenade following what officials described as a suspected drone drop.
Dwivedi said at least eight drones had been sighted since Saturday, adding that the unmanned aerial vehicles appeared to be conducting reconnaissance rather than direct attacks.
“These drones were likely being used to observe troop movements and assess any vulnerabilities,” the army chief said, noting that such activity was viewed as unacceptable by India.
He confirmed that senior military officials from both sides spoke by phone on Tuesday, during which India conveyed its position and asked Pakistan to take steps to prevent further incidents.
Indian media reports, citing army officials, said the drones were believed to be military-grade platforms. There was no immediate response from Pakistan’s military regarding the allegations.
Security analysts say drone-related incidents have emerged as a recurring flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, despite existing military communication mechanisms aimed at avoiding escalation.
