The long rivalry between India and Pakistan has now entered a high-tech phase: drone warfare. Both countries are rapidly building up their drone fleets. At first, they used drones mainly for surveillance. But now, they rely on them for spying, cross-border attacks, and surprise strikes. As a result, this new drone race is changing the military balance in South Asia. More importantly, it adds a dangerous new layer to an already tense situation.
Drones: The New Frontier of Warfare
Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are altering the way countries fight wars. They’re affordable, they’re flexible, and they can handle tasks like surveillance and precision strikes. For countries like India and Pakistan, where budgets are tight but security demands are high, drones are a clever and practical choice.
But it’s not just about boosting the military. Drones also help countries stay ahead of their rivals, protect borders, and gain a psychological edge. As drone technology keeps improving and becoming more affordable, even smaller nations, not just global superpowers — are turning to them in modern warfare.
The Escalation: Recent Incidents and Trends
Drone activity close to border regions including Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, and Rajasistan has surged over years in India and Pakistan. India has found and eliminated hundreds of drones, many thought to have originated from Pakistan carrying drugs, explosives, or weapons. India has responded by strengthening its defenses with high-tech radars, jammers, and artificial intelligence capabilities as well as by building its own drones including the TAPAS-BH- 201 and Rustom series.
Conversely, Pakistan has developed its own drones like Shahpar and Burraq and employs drones from Turkey and China, including the Bayraktar TB2 and Wing Loong UAVs. The drone attack on an Indian Air Force facility in June 2021 signaled a sea change in drone use, generating serious questions over the course of conflict in the area going forward.
Strategic Implications for South Asia
The growing drone race between India and Pakistan is creating serious strategic challenges:
1. Asymmetric Warfare: Drones give one side the power to strike or provoke the other without starting a full-scale war. As a result, the chances of small conflicts turning into bigger ones go up, and both sides risk making dangerous misjudgments.
2. Surveillance and Espionage: Advanced drones with night-vision and thermal cameras now give both countries powerful tools to watch each other. As a result, they can track troop movements, border activity, and new infrastructure almost in real time.
3. Proxy Conflicts and Insurgency Support: Many worry that drones are helping insurgent groups. India has directly accused Pakistan of using drones to drop weapons and explosives for cross-border terrorists.
4. Regional Domino Effect: As India and Pakistan ramp up their drone use, other nearby countries like China, Iran, and Bangladesh may do the same. This trend could trigger a wider drone arms race and lead to more military buildup across Asia.
Technological Advancements and Strategic Shifts:
Designed by Bharat Electronics Limited, India’s Akashteer air defense system is helping build up its defenses. In response to worries that China would offer Pakistan modern stealth fighter jets, India has also installed the Surya VHF radar system to identify stealth aircraft.
Pakistan has grown its drone fleet meantime by deploying Turkish YIHA-III loitering missiles and domestically produced Shahpar-III drones.
The Role of Foreign Suppliers:
Foreign countries play a key role in boosting drone power for both India and Pakistan.
- India has tightened its defense links to two world heavyweights in drone technology, the United States and Israel. The Indian military is debating a long-term contract to purchase more MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones built in the United States for surveillance. At the same time, Israeli drones such as the Heron and Harop are already significantly important for India’s intelligence activities.
- Pakistan mostly depends on China and Turkey. China has assisted Pakistan in developing its drone sector; the Wing Loong II drones have enhanced its strike capability. Now bolstering Pakistan’s drone fleet, Turkey has also sent Bayraktar drones, renowned for their success in wars including Libya and Syria.
International involvement makes things more complicated because countries use drones to compete through regional conflicts.
Challenges of Regulation and Control:
Even though drones are becoming more common, no international rules clearly control how countries use them, especially in conflict areas. Unlike traditional weapons, drones fall into a confusing middle ground, partly civilian and partly military.
Tensions might develop rapidly since India and Pakistan lack agreements on drone use control. Mistakes such misreading drone missions, unintentional border crossings, or deliberate provocations could cause military conflicts. Furthermore adding to the uncertainty is the lack of safety precautions or communication meant to prevent drone conflicts.
India’s Counter-Drone Strategy:
To face the growing drone threat, India uses a multi-layered defense approach:
- Technological Solutions: Indian companies like DRDO, Bharat Electronics, and startups develop jamming devices, laser weapons, and radar systems made for detecting low-flying drones.
- Operational Readiness: The Indian military trains its personnel to spot and stop drones. Many military drills now include drone warfare practice.
- Policy Framework: India created “Drone Rules” to control drone use within the country. However, it handles cross-border drone threats through the military and diplomatic efforts.
- Indigenous Development: India is also building its own attack drones. The Rustom II and TAPAS drones should start working soon, boosting India’s ability to monitor and fight from the air.
Pakistan’s Drone Doctrine:
Pakistan’s strategy is less clear, but it seems to focus on these areas:
- Stealth and Surprise: Mostly for spying and sporadic strikes, especially close to the border and tribal areas, Pakistan uses low-cost, covert drones.
- Indigenous Capability: Developed by Pakistan, the Burraq drone is their first armed UAV used in the fight against terrorism. The Shahpar II drone shows Pakistan’s desire to develop more of its own aircraft.
- Links to Terror Networks: Many accuse Pakistan of helping militant groups use drones to smuggle weapons across the border. However, Pakistan denies these claims.
Risk of Escalation and the Way Forward:
Drones give countries important advantages, but they also bring new dangers. Countries can disclaim responsibility as drones do not carry pilots, which increases the attraction of covert operations. This disregard at the same time powers mistrust and increases the likelihood of conflict.
One drone strike on a critical target, for instance, could cause a military reaction whether intended or by accident. Because countries lack clear rules and communication about drone use, this risk becomes even greater.
To prevent a full-scale conflict, both countries should:
- Build trust through specific measures for drone operations.
- Set up hotlines and clear rules to identify and handle drones safely.
- Work together on regional arms control agreements, possibly with help from the UN or SAARC.
- Focus more on developing defense drones rather than offensive ones.
Final Thoughts
India and Pakistan’s drone battles start a new chapter in their rivalry, potentially changing Asia’s military strategies. The key challenge is using this technology responsibly. Without clear rules and communication, this arms race risks sparking dangerous conflicts. The real question is how well both nations manage these risks.
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