AJK imposes 30-day drone ban as security alert intensifies

• A complete ban on outdoor drone flying enforced across AJK

• Interior Ministry orders nationwide enforcement until further notice

• Decision follows reported drone threats along western border

 MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Saturday imposed an “immediate and complete” 30-day ban on outdoor drone flying across the territory to safeguard the public and protect key public and private installations amid heightened tensions along the country’s western borders.

A notification issued by AJK Chief Secretary Khushal Khan stated that remote attacks using quadcopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) had previously targeted government buildings and installations in AJK. In the prevailing circumstances, it said, any drone activity — regulated or otherwise — could pose a direct or indirect threat to public safety, critical infrastructure and the maintenance of public order.

The move comes a day after similar bans were imposed by the provincial governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Gilgit-Baltistan on the outdoor flying of quadcopters and UAVs. The Interior Ministry announced the measure on Friday, citing prevailing security concerns along the western border.

The ban follows recent incidents in which Afghan Taliban forces reportedly attempted to use rudimentary drones to target areas inside Pakistan. Several such incidents were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prompting warnings from both military and civilian authorities.

During a press briefing, Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations, confirmed that Taliban forces had attempted to strike locations including Swabi and Abbottabad using drones. “However, the anti-drone systems in place and effective deployment neutralised the threat,” he said.

In a letter addressed to the chief secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as the Islamabad chief commissioner, the Interior Ministry directed strict enforcement of the ban with immediate effect and until further orders.

However, the restriction does not apply to the use of small drones for indoor coverage of events in halls or marquees, nor to operations conducted by intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Emergency, security preparedness stepped up

Meanwhile, the AJK authorities have stepped up emergency response and internal security preparedness, imposing a ban on leave for rescue personnel and reviewing security arrangements across the territory.

According to a notification, State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) Director General Saeed Qureshi ordered an immediate ban on all forms of leave, including station leave, for SDMA officers and employees as well as personnel of AJK Rescue 1122, as part of precautionary emergency measures.

The directive instructed all relevant staff to remain on high alert, ensure strict attendance on duty, and keep equipment, machinery and vehicles in a state of full operational readiness to respond to any emergency.

Separately, the eighth meeting of the Regional Coordination Committee was held under the chairmanship of Muzaffarabad Division Commissioner Chaudhry Badar Munir. Participants reviewed the internal security situation against the backdrop of ongoing Pak-Afghan tensions, and discussed the implementation of the National Action Plan as well as progress on the repatriation of illegally residing Afghan nationals.