New Delhi: The recent drone attack, targeting the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Jammu with explosives, has clearly set the government thinking.
Following the daring attempt on June 27, which injured two IAF personnel, drones have been repeatedly spotted hovering over military installations in Jammu district close to the border areas.
Acknowledging that drones could be the new means of causing damage and nuisance by terrorist and militant groups, little time has been wasted in finding ways to counter this threat. On Saturday, Amit Shah said that counter-drone technology will soon be available in India.
The Union Home minister informed that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and other agencies are working on indigenous counter-drone technology.
“Smuggling of drugs, arms, and explosives through tunnels and drones is a major challenge. Today, it is very important for us to deal with these challenges at the earliest. I am confident that we will soon increase our presence at the borders with Swadeshi (made-in-India) anti-drone technology,” Shah stated during an investiture ceremony of Border Security Force (BSF).
The June 27 incident, the first attempt to strike at vital installations in India with unmanned aerial vehicles, is being probed by the National Investigation Agency. Experts believe that it was the handiwork of Pakistan-based terrorists.
Shah urged top security officers to find new technology with experts’ help so that India deal with the threat of the use of Artificial Intelligence and robotics technology by enemies and terrorists.
Shah also assured that all gaps in border fencing will be filled by 2022 so that infiltration and other anti-national activities can be ended.
India shares with Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan land border covering over 15,000 km.
Fencing of 2,021 km of the 3,323 km-long India-Pakistan border has been completed.
