/squirrels/media/agency_attachments/Grmx48YPNUPxVziKflJm.png)
/squirrels/media/member_avatars/2024/12/06/2024-12-06t110903989z-the-squirrels-logo-round.jpg ){kind=logo}
Follow UsApproximately 500 drones were deployed by the Pakistan Army towards Indian positions last night, observed at 24 locations ranging from the Siachen base camp in Ladakh to the Kutch region in Gujarat. Air defence systems successfully neutralised around 50 of these drones while an additional 20 were downed through soft kill methods.
The majority of Pakistani drones were unarmed, equipped with cameras that likely transmitted footage back to their ground stations. The Indian air defence effectively eliminated nearly all drones that posed a threat to infrastructure.
In light of rising tensions with Pakistan following Operation Sindoor—a targeted strike by the Indian Army on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir—the Indian government has granted the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) the authority to mobilize every officer and enlisted member of the Territorial Army to bolster national security and support the regular army. This power was conferred under Rule 33 of the Territorial Army Rules, 1948, and is effective from February 10 of this year until February 9, 2028.
Security measures and impacts
Following the operation, India instituted stringent security protocols to protect its borders and citizens. The Indian Army heightened surveillance along the border and the Line of Control (LoC), relocating civilians in border areas to bunkers for their safety. Red alerts were issued in states such as Uttar Pradesh, and nationwide mock drills were conducted, including at airports in Delhi and Mumbai, to improve readiness.
The operation also had immediate logistical repercussions, leading to the suspension of commercial flights at 21 airports in northern India, including Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, and Chandigarh, until May 9, which affected over 200 flights. The Kartarpur corridor was closed, and banks enhanced their cybersecurity measures. Educational institutions in five districts of Jammu and Pathankot were closed for 72 hours due to increased security concerns.