791 drone incursions in 2025: Defense ministry cites Pakistan-backed infiltration attempts; spoofers, jammers counter threat

NEW DELHI: India reported 791 drone intrusions along the western border during 2025, underlining the increasing use of unmanned aerial systems for smuggling and infiltration, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.

According to the ministry’s year-end review, nine such incidents were recorded along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, while 782 were reported along the IB in Punjab and Rajasthan.


The ministry said that “Effective employment of own spoofers and jammers along the western front significantly countered the drone threat.”

Indian forces also succeeded in neutralising 237 drones during the year in the IB sector. These comprised “five drones with war-like stores, 72 drones with narcotics and 161 drones without any payload.”

The review noted that Pakistan has been attempting to use the IB sector extensively for hostile activities. “Significant efforts are being made by Pakistan to exploit the IB sector not only to smuggle weapons and narcotics using drones, but also to infiltrate large strength of terrorists,” it said. The continued functioning of training camps, presence of terrorists at launch pads and repeated infiltration bids reflect Pakistan’s “persistent intent to prosecute a proxy war strategy”, the ministry added.

On the overall security environment, the ministry said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir remains “firmly under control” due to sustained and relentless efforts by the Indian Army. It said residents have opted for development and are participating actively in initiatives run by the government and the Army.

The review credited the ‘whole-of-nation’ approach for a “reduction in violence levels, scaled down protests and zero incidents of stone pelting”. It further stated that the “security situation in hinterland continues to witness consistent improvement since 2019”.

The ministry also referred to Operation Sindoor, carried out on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed. The operation resulted in the elimination of at least 100 terrorists. As part of the action, Indian armed forces carried out precision missile strikes on nine terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, triggering a four-day military confrontation between the two countries.

Military actions were halted on May 10 following hotline discussions between the Directors General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan.

The review also said Pakistan tried to turn the Poonch-Rajouri region into a “hotbed for proxy war during the year 2023-24”. In this context, the ministry said priorities for 2025 included strengthening the anti-infiltration grid, continuing operations in middle and higher reaches to neutralise terrorists, and curbing local recruitment by promoting a development-oriented environment.

It said “a total of 29 capability development schemes have already been contracted and another 16 schemes are likely to be contracted in December 2025”.

On self-reliance in drone production, the ministry said “515 Army Base Workshop and select Corps Z Workshops/EME Battalions have established credible drone manufacturing capability using in-house expertise and collaboration with subject matter experts”. It added that these facilities meet required quality standards.

“The facilities are state-of-the-art, which meet the quality requirements of drones. A total of 819 drones (surveillance -193, kamikaze/armed/weaponised -337, first pilot view -289) have been manufactured till date by EME units,” the ministry said.

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