The reported sighting of a suspected drone in the Gajansoo border area of Jammu on Thursday is not an isolated incident. It is yet another reminder of Pakistan’s insidious attempts to undermine peace in Jammu and Kashmir through unconventional warfare. When infiltration bids and cross-border firing failed to achieve their aims, Pakistan’s deep state has increasingly turned to drones as their new weapon of choice—flying in contraband, weapons, and terror payloads into our territory under the cover of darkness. This latest incident, promptly reported by alert locals and followed up with a security operation, reflects both the vigilance of our citizens and the persistence of Pakistan’s hostile intent. Over the past few years, dozens of drones launched from across the border have been intercepted carrying arms, IEDs, or narcotics. The 2021 drone attack on the Jammu Air Force Station marked the first time a military installation in the country came under such a strike, proving that Pakistan-backed elements are willing to escalate risks and destabilise J&K at any cost. Let there be no mistake: these are not random acts by rogue operators. They are part of a calculated strategy by Pakistan’s military-intelligence complex to wage a low-cost, deniable war against India. Drones give Islamabad the illusion of plausible deniability, but the pattern of activity leaves little doubt about the guiding hand. From Punjab to Jammu, the skyward menace has become a new frontier in Pakistan’s proxy war. We can’t afford to treat such incidents as routine. Every sighting must be investigated with utmost seriousness and every breach neutralised with technological and punitive response. Anti-drone systems, radars, and jammers must be expanded beyond sensitive installations to border villages and hinterland corridors. At the same time, Pakistan must be held accountable diplomatically and militarily for every such act of aggression. A nation that exports terror, weapons, and narcotics under the cover of drones cannot pretend innocence. The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve freedom from the constant shadow of terrorism. That freedom can only be secured through a mix of robust technology, enhanced intelligence, and an uncompromising national stance that sends Islamabad a clear message: every drone incursion is an act of hostility, and every such act will invite consequences. For too long, Pakistan has relied on asymmetric tactics to bleed India by a thousand cuts. With the rise of drone warfare, it is simply trying to cut deeper. The time has come for us to sharpen our resolve and ensure that the skies over J&K remain firmly under our control—safe for our citizens, and hostile only to those who dare challenge our sovereignty