Security Forces Detect Multiple Pakistani Drones Over J&K's IB-LoC in Samba, Rajouri, Poonch; Troops Fire, Searches Yield Arms Cache
According to officials, security forces detected movement of suspected drones in several forward areas along the International Border and the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba, Rajouri and Poonch districts on Sunday evening.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) January 12: Security forces detected movement of suspected drones along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in Samba, Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday (January 11, 2026) evening, officials said. All the flying objects originated on the Pakistan side and returned after hovering over Indian territory for a few minutes, they said.
Army, Police Launch Joint Search Ops in Suspected Drop Zones
Security personnel immediately activated standard operating procedures, including alerting troops in nearby posts and launching coordinated searches in the suspected drop zones.
Officials said security forces on the ground began search operations after noticing the drone activity in the forward areas. After the sightings, joint search operations were conducted between the Army, police and other security agencies in the affected areas to check for any suspicious material or weapons that may have been dropped. The searches continued late into the night as a precaution, officials said.
Army Opens Fire on Suspected Drone in Rajouri's Nowshera
It was reported that in the Nowshera sector along the LoC in Rajouri district, Army troops opened fire with medium and light machine guns after observing drone movement over Gania-Kalsian village around 6.35 pm, officials said.
A separate drone was spotted in Khabbar village, Teryath area of Rajouri district, around the same time. The flying object, with a blinking light, was seen coming from the direction of Dharmsal village in Kalakote and moving towards Bharakh, they said.
Blinking Drones Spotted in Chak Babral, and Poonch's Mankote-Topa Areas
In Samba district, officials said, a drone-like object with a blinking light was observed hovering over Chak Babral village in the Ramgarh sector for several minutes around 7.15 pm.
At around 6.25 pm, a similar object was observed moving from the direction of Tain towards Topa in the Mankote sector along the LoC in Poonch district, they added.
Recent Arms Recovery in Samba's Paloora: Pistols, Grenade Dropped by Pakistani Drone
In Paloora village, Ghagwal of Samba district near the IB, security forces recovered an arms consignment on Friday night, allegedly dropped by a drone from Pakistan. The recovery included two pistols, three magazines, 16 rounds, and a grenade, they said.
During Operation Sindoor, India had shot down several Pakistani drones. Drone sightings had fallen significantly after that point, but at least five Pakistani drone incursions were reported today in a single day.
Pakistan uses drones to drop weapons and drugs onto Indian territory and aid state-sponsored terror organizations.
