Indian Army foils early morning Pak drone intrusion attempt along LoC in Poonch, J&K

Indian Army personnel foiled an attempted drone intrusion along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district early Sunday morning, detecting and repelling multiple quadcopters that briefly crossed into Indian airspace before retreating under counter-drone action, officials said.

The episode, which unfolded shortly after dawn, highlights the growing use of unmanned aerial systems along the contested frontier and has prompted renewed vigilance among security forces deployed in forward positions.

Early morning detection triggers swift counter-drone response

According to officials, troops stationed in the sensitive Poonch sector detected suspicious aerial movement between 5:45 am and 6:00 am, when two to three small quadcopters attempted to violate Indian airspace.

Ground units immediately activated counter-drone measures, forcing the aircraft to disengage and return across the Line of Control.

“In the early morning hours today, between 5:45 and 6:00 AM, 2-3 small quadcopters attempted to violate airspace along the Line of Control in the Poonch area of Jammu & Kashmir. Swift counter-drone actions by vigilant Indian Army personnel successfully thwarted the attempt, forcing the quadcopters to return”, Indian Army Officials said according to news agency ANI.

Authorities have not officially disclosed the origin of the drones.

Troops open fire as drone hovers over Digwar area

During the same incident window, an unmanned aerial vehicle briefly entered the Indian side near the Digwar area, prompting troops manning a forward post to open fire.

Officials said soldiers detected the drone at around 6:10 am and fired more than a dozen rounds in an attempt to bring it down. The drone, however, evaded gunfire after hovering briefly and returned towards Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The firing formed part of the Army’s standard engagement protocol when aerial intrusions are detected in sensitive border zones.

Search operation launched to rule out weapons or narcotics drop

Following the intrusion attempt, security forces launched a search operation in nearby areas to ensure that no weapons, explosives or narcotics had been airdropped during the drone’s brief presence.

Officials said no suspicious material had been recovered so far.

Drone incursions along the LoC have previously been linked to cross-border smuggling operations, particularly involving arms and narcotics, prompting heightened monitoring in vulnerable sectors.

Second drone sighting in three days keeps forces on high alert

Sunday’s incident marked the second time within three days that troops in the Poonch sector opened fire after detecting drone movement from across the border. On February 27, soldiers had similarly engaged a suspected Pakistani drone in the same area.

The recurrence of such incidents has kept security forces on elevated alert, reflecting an evolving security challenge as low-flying quadcopters increasingly feature in cross-border activity.

Military officials say small drones pose operational difficulties due to their size, manoeuvrability and limited radar visibility, requiring rapid ground-based response rather than traditional air defence systems.

As tensions along the LoC remain sensitive, authorities continue to strengthen surveillance and counter-drone capabilities to deter future intrusions.