According to sources, more than 30 dedicated anti-drone units have been positioned in forward areas under the Pakistan Army’s 12th Infantry Division, headquartered in Murree, and the 23rd Infantry Division, which oversees brigades along the Kotli–Bhimber axis. The deployments mark a concerted effort by Islamabad to reinforce airspace surveillance, electronic warfare and point-defence capabilities close to the LoC, where drone activity has become a growing concern.
Sector-wise responsibility for the new counter-drone assets has been divided among formations of the so-called Azad Kashmir units. In the Rawalakot sector, systems are primarily operated by the 2nd Azad Kashmir Brigade, which faces Indian positions in the Poonch sector. The Kotli sector falls under the 3rd Azad Kashmir Brigade, covering areas opposite Rajouri, Poonch, Naushera and Sunderbani, while the Bhimber sector is being handled by the 7th Azad Kashmir Brigade, sources said.
Among the key technologies deployed is the Spider counter-UAS system, which relies on passive radio-frequency detection and direction-finding techniques. The system is claimed to be capable of identifying small loitering munitions as well as larger drones at distances of up to 10 kilometres. Complementing this is the Safrah anti-UAV jamming gun, a shoulder-fired, man-portable weapon with an effective range of around 1.5 kilometres, designed to disrupt drone control signals, video feeds and GPS links.
Beyond these electronic and “soft-kill” measures, Pakistan has also moved traditional air defence weapons closer to the LoC to counter low-flying aerial threats. These include Oerlikon GDF 35 mm twin-barrel anti-aircraft guns equipped with radar guidance, along with Anza Mk-II and Mk-III man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), which are capable of engaging slow-moving, low-altitude targets.
Security sources say the scale and speed of the latest deployments underscore Pakistan’s unease over what it perceives as an increasingly assertive Indian military posture along the western border. This concern has been sharpened by recent tri-service combat drills conducted by the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, and by the demonstrated effectiveness of Indian strikes during Operation Sindoor.
Pakistan is also understood to be in discussions with Turkey and China for the acquisition of additional drones and advanced air defence systems, as it seeks to address gaps in its counter-drone capabilities that were exposed during the operation.
Operation Sindoor was launched by India on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 tourists were killed. During the operation, Indian forces not only destroyed key terror infrastructure but also carried out strikes on vital military installations deep inside Pakistan. The hostilities subsided three days later after Pakistan approached India seeking a ceasefire, which came into effect on May 10.
The fresh military preparations along the LoC highlight the fragile security environment in the region, where the increasing role of drones and precision strikes is reshaping battlefield dynamics. As both sides adapt to these evolving threats, the developments point to a more contested and technologically driven future for border management and deterrence in South Asia.
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