A suspected drone of Pakistani origin was sighted along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district on Sunday, prompting security forces to launch an extensive search operation, officials said.
The drone-like object was seen hovering over forward villages in the Bobiyan area of the Hiranagar sector at around 10:35 am, according to officials cited by multiple news outlets, including Daily Excelsior, The Economic Times, and Greater Kashmir. After a few minutes, the suspected drone was observed receding towards Pakistan, officials added.
Following the sighting, security forces cordoned off the area and conducted a search operation to rule out the possibility of a payload, such as narcotics or weapons, being airdropped. However, officials said that nothing objectionable was recovered during the operation.
The incident is the latest in a series of reported drone sightings along the border in the region, which have raised concerns about cross-border smuggling and aerial infiltration. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and maintain vigilance in the area.