Pakistani Drone Spotted Near International Border in Jammu’s Kathua; Massive Search Operation Launched

Security forces have launched an extensive search operation after a suspected Pakistani drone was spotted over forward villages near the International Border (IB) in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. The heightened alert comes amid reports of increased military deployment by Pakistan across the border.

According to officials, the drone entered Indian airspace at around 2 pm and was sighted over the forward villages of Sukhmal, Devinder and Tapan in the Hiranagar sector.

Alert Border Security Force (BSF) personnel immediately attempted to intercept the drone. However, the unmanned aerial vehicle, flying at a considerable altitude, returned across the border before it could be brought down.

Following the incident, the BSF and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a large-scale search operation in the area to determine whether the drone had dropped any weapons, explosives or other suspicious material.

Anti-Terror Operation Underway in Poonch

In a separate operation, security forces have intensified an anti-terror search operation in Poonch district after receiving intelligence inputs about the suspected movement of two terrorist groups.

Personnel from the Special Operations Group (SOG), Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Rashtriya Rifles are conducting searches in Dhara Sangla, Gujjar Nar and Kherowali Dhok in the Surankote area.

Although suspicious movement was reported in parts of Kalaban and Mendhar, no arrests have been made so far.

Old Mortar Shell Recovered

In another security-related development, an old unexploded mortar shell was recovered from the courtyard of a house in Kattal-Brahmana village in Kathua’s Hiranagar sector on Tuesday morning.

The shell was discovered by labourers engaged in excavation work, who immediately informed the authorities. A police team, along with the Bomb Disposal Squad, secured the area and safely removed the unexploded ordnance.

Security agencies remain on high alert along the International Border and are continuing surveillance to prevent any cross-border infiltration or security breach.