India to deploy anti-drone units on Pak, BD borders

ISLAMABAD: India has announced the introduction of anti-drone units on the border with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It will establish a comprehensive anti-drone unit for securing its borders in response to the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles coming from other sides of the border.

According to media reports Indian Home Minister Amit Shah while addressing Indian Border Security Force (BSF) troops during the 60th Raising Day event at the force’s training camp, highlighted the seriousness of the drone menace and India’s proactive measures. He said that India would implement a comprehensive integrated management system to “monitor sensitive areas” along the entire border with Pakistan and Bangladesh. Shah said that India would establish a comprehensive anti-drone unit to secure its borders in response to the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles.

Shah said that the initial results of a “laser-equipped anti-drone gun-mounted” mechanism have been encouraging, leading to a significant increase in drone neutralization and detection cases along the Pakistan-India border in Punjab. An Indian newspaper reported, citing official data, that more than 260 drones have been downed or recovered from India’s border with Pakistan this year, compared to about 110 in 2023. Most of these interdictions have taken place in Punjab, with very few in Rajasthan and Jammu.

Shah also discussed the ongoing Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System for securing India’s borders with Pakistan (2,289 km) and Bangladesh (4,096 km), saying that it is a work in progress. “We have had an encouraging response from the CIBMS deployed along the riverine border in Assam’s Dhubri (India-Bangladesh international border), but some improvements are required,” he said. “After some improvements, this system will be applied across the entire borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh,” an Indian official statement quoted the home minister as saying. The announcement comes amidst strained bilateral ties between Bangladesh and India following the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August.