Another problem which has been persisting for a while now is how to make drones a precision tool of action. The collateral damage can cause public alienation which may further erode public confidence in support of LEAs in the region. The nightmare scenario for police and other LEAs pivots around individuals with terror outfits operating drones with payloads within or across the Durand Line. This can further complicate the CT action as counter drone measures require round the clock surveillance and resilience. So far, the improvised explosive devices, locally made or remodeled, has been challenging the police response in erstwhile FATA region and beyond.
Balochistan requires a more complex drone management system especially at its borders with Afghanistan and Iran. Unmanned aerial vehicles are routinely used to monitor difficult terrain, track the movement of militant elements and identify suspected hideouts that would otherwise be hard to access. The real-time aerial imagery allows commanders to plan precise force deployment, minimise exposure of troops and conduct targeted operations based on verified intelligence. This has significantly improved situational awareness and reduced reliance on traditional, risk-heavy ground reconnaissance. Interestingly Iranian border security forces have been relying on drone surveillance, border monitoring and its early warning capability. It is rapidly improving its drone fleet especially in the areas of defensive and deterrence strike capability.
For LEAs, drone technology has transformed operational response and policing methods. Police now use drones for rapid assessment of crime scenes, surveillance during raids, monitoring large public gatherings and coordinating responses to evolving threats. In high-risk areas, drones enable LEAs to react faster and more effectively by providing live aerial views that guide ground units. The growing use of anti-drone systems — such as jammers and detection equipment — has further strengthened police capabilities, especially in response to militant groups that have begun weaponising locally manufactured drones.
As a result, LEAs are shifting from reactive policing to a more intelligence-driven and tech-enabled approach. The kacha area of Punjab has seen drones as a weapon of choice where police have employed these aerial machines rapidly to attack and destroy the hideouts of the criminals. The recent incident of abduction of nearly two dozen passengers from a bus near Ghotki and their subsequent release marks a crucial moment in the anti-criminal drone-based operations in Sindh. The Sindh police used drone technology to conduct an immediate successful chase along with causing significant damage to the hideouts of the dacoits. Punjab and Sindh police departments need to raise a separate drone unit for their provincial tasks in difficult regions. Moreover, a coordinated drone action is also required to flush out criminal elements in bordar lands of Punjab.
The ability of security forces to maintain persistent aerial surveillance limits militants’ freedom of movement and reduces the effectiveness of traditional concealment methods. In response, hostile elements are being forced to adapt by dispersing, operating at night or experimenting with their own drone capabilities. This evolving dynamic is reshaping the battlefield, where control of airspace — even at low altitudes — has become a decisive factor. As drone and counter-drone technologies continue to advance, they are likely to play a central role in shaping future security strategies and adversarial tactics in Pakistan.