NEW DELHI, Feb 24: The BSF has initiated a plan to deploy more personnel at posts along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab and Jammu to enhance the anti-infiltration measures and control drone intrusions carrying weapons or narcotics, as stated by official sources on Monday.
According to sources, the Western Command of the Border Security Force, based in Chandigarh, has also instructed the establishment of nine “tactical” headquarters in these areas, where intelligence and operational resources will be consolidated under a newly established control room.
A tactical or ‘tac headquarters’ serves as a forward base situated close to the border, positioned right at the border post, ahead of the rear battalion base.
As per the sources, each ‘tac headquarters’ will include a senior commander from all divisions, including the commanding officer (CO) of the battalion stationed at vulnerable border posts.
Additionally, instructions have been given to transfer “maximum” force personnel to border units throughout these regions, transitioning from the battalion headquarters, sources noted.
Members of the security establishment indicated that this decision was made late last week, considering the ongoing “vulnerability and constant threat” to these border zones regarding infiltration and drone operations originating from Pakistan.
“The directives require these actions to be implemented without delay,” a senior officer in Punjab remarked.
However, officials expressed concerns that requiring commanding officers to be present at their respective tac headquarters “at all times” could create command and administrative challenges.
The CO of a battalion oversees several companies and units dispersed across various locations; thus, such officers need to move between their different units rather than remain stationary at a single site round-the-clock, clarified BSF field officials.
The BSF is responsible for securing the 2,289 km-long India-Pakistan International Border that stretches from Jammu and Kashmir in the north to Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat along the western boundary of the country. The Punjab sector of the force monitors 553 km of this border while the Jammu sector covers 191.66 km of the IB, alongside 40.07 km of the Line of Control (LoC).
In Punjab, the BSF confiscated a total of 294 drones and seized around 283 kg of heroin last year, with most of these unmanned devices being manufactured in China. In 2023, 107 drone seizures were reported at this frontier.
Last year, the force also eliminated four Pakistani intruders and apprehended 161 Indian smugglers, including 30 Pakistani nationals along the Punjab border.
