Kashmir , 24 Dec : Security forces on Wednesday recovered around ten balloons carrying Pakistani flags in north Kashmir close to the Line of Control (LoC), triggering enhanced vigilance and surveillance in the sensitive border areas, officials said.
Officials said that they sighted the balloons landing near Sarna Top in the Khadinayar area of Baramulla district. The objects were first noticed by a patrolling unit of the Army’s 46 Rashtriya Rifles during routine area domination.
Officials said that security forces immediately seized the balloons carrying the Pakistani flag and took them into custody for further examination, following standard security protocols.
Second Incident in Kupwara
In a separate but similar incident, local residents spotted another balloon bearing the Pakistan International Airlines inscription atop a tree in an orchard at Naugam in Handwara, Kupwara district, near the LoC, and promptly informed the security forces.
Army personnel later reached the location and retrieved the object. Officials said the balloon has been secured and is being examined to ascertain its origin and purpose.
Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of the balloons drifting across due to weather conditions, but investigations are underway to rule out any security implications. More details are awaited, officials said.
The Indian Army guards the 740-km-long Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir across several districts, including Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora in the Kashmir Valley, and Poonch, Rajouri, and parts of Jammu district in the Jammu division.
The Border Security Force (BSF) mans the 240-km-long international border in Samba, Kathua, and Jammu districts.
Both the Army and the BSF remain on high alert to counter infiltration attempts, cross-border smuggling and drone-based activities originating from across the border.
Ongoing Security Operations
Security agencies have been maintaining intensified surveillance along border areas amid concerns over attempts to smuggle arms, ammunition, cash and narcotics to sustain terrorist activities in the Union Territory.
Drone incursions from across the border have also emerged as a major challenge in recent years.
Local police, along with central armed forces, continue to carry out counter-terrorism operations in the hinterland.
These operations focus on targeting terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers in order to dismantle the broader support network of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Security forces are also actively monitoring individuals involved in drug smuggling, narcotics peddling, hawala money rackets and other unlawful activities.
Officials said that illegal networks often channel funds to finance terrorism in the region.
Authorities maintain strict security measures and treat any suspicious object near border areas with utmost caution to ensure public safety and national security.
