In a significant disclosure, a senior Pakistani government official has acknowledged that Pakistani smugglers are using drones to peddle drugs, especially heroin, into India.
Malik Mohd Ahmad Khan, the Special Assistant on Defence to Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, made the remarks in an interview with GeoTV journalist Hamid Mir. Khan is the Member of Provincial Assembly from Kasur City, which borders Indian Punjab.
The Comments
Mir tweeted on 17 July, “Big disclosure by PM’s advisor Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan. Smugglers using drones in the flood-affected areas of Kasur near Pakistan-India border to transport heroin. He demanded a special package for the rehabilitation of the flood victims otherwise victims will join smugglers.”
In the video clip accompanying the tweet, Khan can be heard commenting on the lack of network in the region. He says, “This (Kasur near LoC) is a rangers’ area. Due to some border regulations, there is some sensitivity.”
Pakistani smugglers are increasingly using drones to send drugs across the border to #India, a senior #Pakistan government functionary has said, in a first such admission that corroborates allegations that Pakistani peddlers are using hi-tech means to pour narcotics into the… pic.twitter.com/LgtQ2PDqgC
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) July 28, 2023
Mir questioned Khan on whether reports regarding the usage of drones for smuggling in the region bordering India are accurate. Replying in the affirmative, Khan says, “Sure it [smuggling via drone] is happening, and it is very unfortunate.”
Khan further mentioned that in two recent incidents, 10kg of heroin was tied to each drone and flown across.
“Agencies are working on it,” Khan remarked.
Recent Incidents
Several incidents have been reported in the recent past in India, with security forces bringing down numerous drones carrying contraband from across the border to the Indian side.
On 21 July, the Border Security Forces and Punjab Police troops recovered a Pakistani drone near Tarn Taran in a broken condition. In the search operation that followed, they seized 2.35 kg of heroin.
On 18 July, a 2.20 kg package of heroin dropped by a drone was found in the Khalra sector by the BSF and police.
The BSF shot down another narcotics-laden Pakistan drone in Amritsar on 10 June. A Pakistani drone was recovered along the International Border near Rai village a day before this incident.
Malik Mohd Ahmad Khan, a person close to both Pakistan PM Sharif and the military establishment, said smugglers use drones to smuggle drugs to India
— News18 (@CNNnews18) July 28, 2023
Full story: https://t.co/U9B5lC0Ttq#pakistan #india #military #smugglers #news pic.twitter.com/uhqEOgj00J
Drone Usage for Narco-Terrorism
In April this year, Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbag Singh highlighted that security forces had taken many counter-measures to stop incidents of drone smugglings.
In an interview with the Washington Post in 1994, former Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif said that the country’s security establishments sell heroin to pay for the country’s covert military operations.
The Indo-Pak border has always been susceptible to narcotics smuggling, and the recent incidents reflect that. The Pakistani official’s recent admission testifies that mainstreaming drone usage for drug peddling is now making the country vulnerable to narco-terrorism.