NEW DELHI: Taken aback by last month’s IAF strikes in Balakot, Pakistan has started deploying weaponized drones across the LoC, according to a military report. As per initial reports, Pakistan deployed a squadron of American manufactured F-16 across the border, which was later withdrawn and Chinese made fighter jets were deployed at the army base near the border.

Recently, security forces shot down several Pakistani drones attempting to sneak into India. A Pakistani unmanned combat aerial vehicle was neutralized in Gujarat.

The Indian Army, the IAF and paramilitaries have been alerted about the neighbor's drone deployments reported by the BSF, the sources said. Surveillance and reconnaissance drones can be equipped with a range of weapons, such as missiles and laser-guided bombs, to strike targets on land or in the air.

According to security sources, Pakistan is trying to procure at least 48 Wing Loong II drones from China.