Update: Drone infiltration increased to 266 attempts by November 14, 2022, said Pankaj Singh, BSF DG, as per a report by the Free Press Journal. Singh said the number had doubled since 2021 with 215 cases reported along the Punjab border and 25 cases reported along the Jammu border. What’s the news: It’s drone season! Or so it may seem at the India-Pakistan border. In the last nine months, Indian security forces observed and shot down seven out of 191 drone illegally crossing the international border from Pakistan, reported The Tribune. According to the report, ANI acquired central government documents that reported how the security forces’ observed 171 drones entering India through Punjab border while 20 drones were spotted near Jammu’s border. Officials kept a record of the drones from January 1, 2022, to September 30, 2022 “to keep a tab on such illegal activities being orchestrated by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.” Further, until September 15, the Border Security Force (BSF) officers shot down drones in Punjab’s Amritsar, Ferozpur and Abohar regions. Why it matters: In July, Punjab reported over 50 drones flying from the Pakistani side of the border since January. Vijay Kumar Janjua, the Punjab Chief Secretary, had announced a ‘no fly zone’ for drones along districts located up to 25 km from the border and warned that unauthorised flying objects will be shot down. It appears that the drones from Pakistan have continued nonetheless. The last time Punjab had taken such a decision was in 2020 after the…
