Indian Army’s mini-UAV falls into Pakistani territory after ‘technical malfunction’: report

NEW DELHI: A mini UAV of the army fell into Pakistani territory on Friday after drifting over the border during a training mission, the Indian Army said. Pakistani troops have recovered the UAV, said officials.

“At 9:25 am, a Mini UAV on a training mission well within the Indian Territory lost control due to a technical malfunction and drifted into the Nikial Sector of Pakistan opposite our Bhimber Gali Sector.

As per media inputs, Pak troops have recovered the same. A hotline message has been sent to the Pakistan Army to return the said UAV,” said the Indian Army. In March 2022, an accidental firing of a missile into Pakistan -- attributed to a similar technical failure during routine maintenance -- prompted a strong protest from Islamabad and raised concerns about the safety mechanisms in place for military operations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.