A mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) belonging to the Indian Army fell into Pakistani territory on Friday after experiencing a technical malfunction during a training mission, the Indian Army reported. The UAV drifted across the border and landed in the Nikial Sector of Pakistan, opposite the Bhimber Gali Sector in India.
According to a statement from the Indian Army, the UAV lost control at 9:25 AM and subsequently crossed into Pakistani airspace. Pakistani troops have reportedly recovered the UAV. “A hotline message has been sent to the Pakistan Army requesting the return of the UAV,” the statement added.
This incident echoes a similar event from March 2022, when an accidental missile firing into Pakistan was attributed to a technical failure during routine maintenance. That incident led to a strong protest from Pakistan and raised concerns about the safety mechanisms in place for military operations between the two countries.