The Indian security forces near the border areas with Pakistan have been engaged in a rather unconventional battle throughout the year. The drug lords sitting in Pakistan have been using drones to fuel the drug crisis in the northern Indian state of Punjab.&nbsp;

Border Security Force (BSF) tasked with guarding the fence&nbsp;had intercepted as many as 90 drones from Pakistan so far in 2023, according to a Guardian report. The drones, some known as hexacopters, can measure up to eight feet wide and have high-resolution cameras attached to them for manoeuvrability.&nbsp;

Most of the drones were captured carrying consignments of opium and heroin, likely to have been manufactured in Afghanistan. The drugs were often carried in small sacks or Coca-Cola bottles.&nbsp;Apart from drug drones, some carry weapons, including pistols and Chinese-made assault rifles.

Smuggling across Pakistan-India border has been going on for decades but since the first drone was spotted in Punjab in 2019, the menace of drone-drugs has increased exponentially. According to BSF, drones are responsible for 60 per cent of the drug-smuggling in the Indian state in 2023.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistani-drones-cross-india-pak-border-580221">Watch |&nbsp;Pakistani drones cross India-Pak border</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistani-drones-cross-india-pak-border-580221/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>A difficult task</h2>

The challenge is increasing for security agencies as the drone technology evolves. Previously, drones could be detected through noise or the visibility of their light. However, in recent month, drone models that fly as high as&nbsp;one km and produce little to no noise have made the task difficult for agencies.&nbsp;

“We just used to be focused on land, but this aerial thing is a new domain for us and it is indeed a challenge.&nbsp;But I believe we will be able to contain this drone menace by next year," said&nbsp;Atul Fulzele, the inspector general of BSF in Punjab.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bsf-shoots-down-drone-along-india-pakistan-border-in-punjab-586513">Also read |&nbsp;BSF shoots down drone along India-Pakistan border in Punjab</a>

As early as this week on Monday (Dec 25), BSF thwarted a smuggling attempt in Amritsar's Ranian village. The BSF troops caught the drone and seized&nbsp;434 gm&nbsp;of heroin wrapped with adhesive tape.&nbsp;

"On 25 December 2023, during morning hours, on specific information of BSF regarding smuggling through a drone on the outskirts of Village - Ranian &amp; Rear Kakkar, District - Amritsar, an operation was planned," BSF stated in a post.

The BSF has implemented a three-pronged strategy in the face of the crisis which includes&nbsp;curtailing the drug supply, generating awareness against drug abuse whilst empowering the youth with skills to channelise their energies, instead of snorting drugs.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Indian security forces near the border areas with Pakistan have been engaged in a rather unconventional battle throughout the year. The drug lords sitting in Pakistan have been using drones to fuel the drug crisis in the northern Indian state of Punjab.

The Indian security forces near the border areas with Pakistan have been engaged in a rather unconventional battle throughout the year. The drug lords sitting in Pakistan have been using drones to fuel the drug crisis in the northern Indian state of Punjab. Border Security Force (BSF) tasked with guarding the fence had intercepted as many as 90 drones from Pakistan so far in 2023, according to a Guardian report. The drones, some known as hexacopters, can measure up to eight feet wide and have high-resolution cameras attached to them for manoeuvrability. Most of the drones were captured carrying consignments of opium and heroin, likely to have been manufactured in Afghanistan. The drugs were often carried in small sacks or Coca-Cola bottles. Apart from drug drones, some carry weapons, including pistols and Chinese-made assault rifles. Smuggling across Pakistan-India border has been going on for decades but since the first drone was spotted in Punjab in 2019, the menace of drone-drugs has increased exponentially. According to BSF, drones are responsible for 60 per cent of the drug-smuggling in the Indian state in 2023. Watch | Pakistani drones cross India-Pak border × A difficult task The challenge is increasing for security agencies as the drone technology evolves. Previously, drones could be detected through noise or the visibility of their light. However, in recent month, drone models that fly as high as one km and produce little to no noise have made the task difficult for agencies. “We just used to be focused on land, but this aerial thing is a new domain for us and it is indeed a challenge. But I believe we will be able to contain this drone menace by next year," said Atul Fulzele, the inspector general of BSF in Punjab. Also read | BSF shoots down drone along India-Pakistan border in Punjab As early as this week on Monday (Dec 25), BSF thwarted a smuggling attempt in Amritsar's Ranian village. The BSF troops caught the drone and seized 434 gm of heroin wrapped with adhesive tape. "On 25 December 2023, during morning hours, on specific information of BSF regarding smuggling through a drone on the outskirts of Village - Ranian & Rear Kakkar, District - Amritsar, an operation was planned," BSF stated in a post. The BSF has implemented a three-pronged strategy in the face of the crisis which includes curtailing the drug supply, generating awareness against drug abuse whilst empowering the youth with skills to channelise their energies, instead of snorting drugs. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Borders troops on toes against hordes of drug-carrying drones from Pakistan

Highlighting the Doklam standoff as its major achievement of international cooperation this year, the Chinese military on Thursday said India should &quot;strictly control&quot; its troops and implement border agreements to maintain peace and stability along the border.

Chinese Defence Spokesman Col Ren Guoqiang said the highlights of his country&#39;s international military cooperation in 2017 included handling &#39;hotspot issues&#39; like Doklam.

This year, under the unified deployment, the military has &quot;resolutely&quot; safeguarded China&#39;s sovereignty and security interests, Col Ren told media in Beijing.

The Chinese military has &quot;played its due role in the handling of the hotspot issues such as the Sino-Indian confrontation in the Donglang (Doklam) area and safeguarded the China&#39;s rights and interests in the South China Sea,&quot; he said in response to a question.

The Doklam standoff began on June 16 after the People&#39;s Liberation Army (PLA) began building a road in area claimed by Bhutan. The Indian troops intervened to stop the road as it posed a security risk to Chicken Neck, the narrow corridor connecting India with its north-eastern states.

The standoff ended on August 28 following a mutual agreement under which China stopped the construction of the road and India withdrew its troops.

The 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control between India and China covers from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh.

When asked how Chinese military view its relations with its Indian counterpart in 2018 in the backdrop of the Doklam standoff, Col Ren said India should implement the border agreements and control its troops.

&quot;We hope the Indian side can earnestly implement the relevant agreements reached between the two sides on the border issue and strictly control its border defence troops and do more for the positive development of China-India military-to-military relationship,&quot; he said.

 
During the border talks, the first since the 73-day-long military standoff in Doklam, in Delhi on December 22 between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi, both sides stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability along the border, Col Ren said.

&quot;As far as we know both sides have agreed that it is important to maintain peace stability along India-China border and create favourable conditions for further development of bilateral relationship, which has provided a good environment and good momentum for the continued enhancement of China and India relationship,&quot; he said.

In terms of China and India military-to-military relationship, it is important to have strategic communication and push forward healthy development of ties between the two militaries, Col Ren said.

&quot;We hope Indian side walk towards the same direction as the Chinese side and both sides can push forward the development of the relationship and jointly maintain the peace and stability along the China-India border which is in the interest of both sides,&quot; he said.

About a recent incident in which an Indian drone crashed on the Chinese side in the Sikkim sector, Col Ren declined to reveal details and whether the parts of the drone recovered by Chinese troops have been handed back to India.

&quot;It is our position that India should have learnt lesson from the incident,&quot; he said.

On December 7, China had lodged a diplomatic protest with India claiming that an Indian drone has &quot;intruded&quot; into its airspace and crashed in the Sikkim section of the border which included Doklam.

India has clarified that the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle had developed a technical snag and asked China to return it.

Chinese Defence Spokesman Col Ren Guoqiang said the highlights of his country's international military cooperation in 2017 included handling 'hotspot issues' like Doklam

Highlighting the Doklam standoff as its major achievement of international cooperation this year, the Chinese military on Thursday said India should "strictly control" its troops and implement border agreements to maintain peace and stability along the border. Chinese Defence Spokesman Col Ren Guoqiang said the highlights of his country's international military cooperation in 2017 included handling 'hotspot issues' like Doklam. This year, under the unified deployment, the military has "resolutely" safeguarded China's sovereignty and security interests, Col Ren told media in Beijing. The Chinese military has "played its due role in the handling of the hotspot issues such as the Sino-Indian confrontation in the Donglang (Doklam) area and safeguarded the China's rights and interests in the South China Sea," he said in response to a question. The Doklam standoff began on June 16 after the People's Liberation Army (PLA) began building a road in area claimed by Bhutan. The Indian troops intervened to stop the road as it posed a security risk to Chicken Neck, the narrow corridor connecting India with its north-eastern states. The standoff ended on August 28 following a mutual agreement under which China stopped the construction of the road and India withdrew its troops. The 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control between India and China covers from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. When asked how Chinese military view its relations with its Indian counterpart in 2018 in the backdrop of the Doklam standoff, Col Ren said India should implement the border agreements and control its troops. "We hope the Indian side can earnestly implement the relevant agreements reached between the two sides on the border issue and strictly control its border defence troops and do more for the positive development of China-India military-to-military relationship," he said. During the border talks, the first since the 73-day-long military standoff in Doklam, in Delhi on December 22 between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi, both sides stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability along the border, Col Ren said. "As far as we know both sides have agreed that it is important to maintain peace stability along India-China border and create favourable conditions for further development of bilateral relationship, which has provided a good environment and good momentum for the continued enhancement of China and India relationship," he said. In terms of China and India military-to-military relationship, it is important to have strategic communication and push forward healthy development of ties between the two militaries, Col Ren said. "We hope Indian side walk towards the same direction as the Chinese side and both sides can push forward the development of the relationship and jointly maintain the peace and stability along the China-India border which is in the interest of both sides," he said. About a recent incident in which an Indian drone crashed on the Chinese side in the Sikkim sector, Col Ren declined to reveal details and whether the parts of the drone recovered by Chinese troops have been handed back to India. "It is our position that India should have learnt lesson from the incident," he said. On December 7, China had lodged a diplomatic protest with India claiming that an Indian drone has "intruded" into its airspace and crashed in the Sikkim section of the border which included Doklam. India has clarified that the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle had developed a technical snag and asked China to return it.

India should control its troops, implement border agreements to maintain peace and stability along border: Chinese Military

border-troops

Border Troops, News on Border Troops, stories on Border Troops, articles on Border Troops, Border Troops stories at Wion, Border Troops news, Border Troops latest news

border troops

India: Borders troops on toes against hordes of drug-carrying drones from Pakistan

India should control its troops, implement border agreements to maintain peace and stability along border: Chinese Military