Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir sprang into action recently after spotting multiple suspected Pakistani drones buzzing near the sensitive Line of Control (LoC). Troops fired machine guns at one in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri district, lighting up the night sky with tracer rounds in a scene reminiscent of past border skirmishes.

Drones appeared across several spots starting Sunday evening around 6:30 pm, including Rajouri, Poonch, and Samba districts along the LoC and International Border. One hovered over Gania-Kalsian village before retreating, while others with blinking lights darted in from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, prompting immediate searches for possible weapon or drug drops. Just a day earlier, forces recovered pistols, ammo, and a grenade from a drone-dropped package in Samba.

These intrusions aren't isolated—Pakistan has ramped up drone tactics in recent years to smuggle arms and narcotics, fueling terrorism in the region. Last year's Operation Sindoor saw India down several such threats, slashing sightings temporarily, yet at least five probes hit in one day this time. Vigilance remains high, with cordoned areas and ground sweeps ongoing to secure forward posts.

Cheap quadcopters make cross-border ops easier for adversaries, but India's anti-drone tech—like jammers and lasers—is evolving fast. Past hauls reveal patterns: weapons for militants, heroin payloads worth crores. For locals in border villages, the buzz overhead means disrupted nights and heightened alerts, underscoring the LoC's fragile peace.