Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said New Delhi has conveyed its strong objections to Pakistan over repeated drone intrusions along the frontier in Jammu, months after the two nuclear-armed neighbours witnessed their worst fighting in decades.

Drone sightings along Jammu region

Addressing reporters ahead of Army Day on January 15, General Dwivedi said at least eight drones had been sighted since Saturday in areas close to the Line of Control. An Indian military source said five drone intrusions were reported on Sunday evening alone in the Jammu region of Indian-administered Kashmir.

“These drones, I believe, were defensive drones, intended to observe whether any action was being taken,” Dwivedi said. He added that they could also have been used to probe for gaps or laxity that might allow infiltration attempts.

Suspected arms drop recovered

In a separate incident last Friday, Indian security forces recovered two pistols, three ammunition magazines, 16 bullets and one grenade after a suspected drone from Pakistan dropped the consignment, according to military sources. Indian media reports cited army officials as saying the intrusions involved military-grade drones.

Military talks held

General Dwivedi confirmed that the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan spoke over the phone on Tuesday.
“This matter was discussed today. They have been clearly told that this is unacceptable to us and must be stopped,” he said.

There was no immediate response from Pakistan to the remarks.

Tensions remain high after May clashes

Relations between India and Pakistan have remained strained since a four-day conflict in May, described as the worst in decades. The clashes followed a militant attack on Hindu tourists in Kashmir that killed 26 people. New Delhi accused Pakistan of backing the attack, an allegation Islamabad denied.

The confrontation saw the use of fighter jets, missiles, drones and heavy artillery, killing dozens on both sides before a ceasefire was agreed.

Long-standing accusations

India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of aiding armed infiltration into Indian-administered Kashmir, where an insurgency against New Delhi’s rule began in 1989. Pakistan has rejected these claims, maintaining that it offers only political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris.