India’s army chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, accused Pakistan on January 14 of flying drones into Indian-administered territory in the disputed region of Kashmir. Speaking to reporters in an annual briefing, General Dwivedi called the incursions “unacceptable” and said that Pakistani officials have been formally warned to halt such activities.
According to the Indian army, multiple drones were sighted flying over villages along the Indian-controlled side of the Line of Control last week. Some drones were low-flying with lights on, possibly for surveillance purposes, as Dwivedi explained: “It’s possible they wanted to see if there were gaps or laxity in our defense through which they could send terrorists.”
The statements come months after a four-day clash between India and Pakistan in May 2025, which erupted following New Delhi’s allegations that Islamabad had supported a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir, a claim denied by Pakistan. That conflict resulted in at least 70 fatalities and saw extensive use of drones, missiles, and artillery by both sides.
Dwivedi added that the heads of military operations for both nations had communicated earlier on January 14. Despite the tension, there was no immediate response from Pakistan’s army. The general emphasized that Indian forces remain fully alert along the Line of Control, the heavily fortified de facto border separating Indian and Pakistan administered Kashmir.
Kashmir has been a Muslim-majority territory since the independence of India and Pakistan, as such, Kashmir has been claimed to be a part of both of these countries. Insurgent groups in Indian administered Kashmir have waged a campaign of violence that seeks either complete independence or total merger with their parent state (Pakistan).
Continuous drone sighting over Kashmir indicates that the border between these two nations remains highly volatile and sensitive. India claims that the drones are used for defense, but the existence of a high number of drone sightings also means that India continues to not trust Pakistan and that the threat of another conflict persists. Experts have indicated that even a single drone incursion can maintain, or in some cases heighten, tensions on this already volatile border, as armed confrontation between the two nations is not a distant memory but a continuing reality.