The Border Security Force (BSF) has started a large-scale operation that will last for months. This action is based on intelligence reports suggesting a high number of infiltration attempts, and the aim is to check if tunnels are being used by terrorists to enter Indian territory.

A senior BSF official said the force is trying to find cross-border tunnels using scientific methods and is targeting areas of the border that have been recognised as tunnel-prone. Along a 33 km section of the International Border (IB) with Pakistan, anti-tunnelling trenches have been dug over a 25 km area to prevent underground infiltration. This step was taken based on intelligence reports indicating a high risk of infiltration this year.

It has been over six months since the process to rule out tunnels started, according to a top official. “The project started a couple of months before the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. The BSF identified stretches that are prone to tunnelling and finalised the most crucial 33-km stretch along Jammu, Samba, and Kathua. The work was prioritised as the area had previously seen instances of tunnels. Equipped with advanced machinery and technology, BSF personnel began digging anti-tunnelling trenches. These trenches are approximately 4 feet wide and 10 feet deep," a senior official said. In the next few months, the BSF will finish this task and start digging in a different area. It's worth noting that the last tunnel was discovered in 2022.

India has a 3,323 km land border with Pakistan, which stretches across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Following the record recovery of 257 drones from the Indo-Pakistan border last year, and in response to concerns about more infiltration attempts, the BSF has set up anti-drone systems to combat illegal drone activities. To further strengthen security, additional battalions have been deployed to handle anti-infiltration duties and ensure strong control over the deeper areas of the Jammu Frontier. A spokesperson for the BSF stated that the force is also building axial and lateral roadways to improve the administrative and operational movement of personnel.

A press statement detailing the initiatives taken by the BSF said, “A New Design Fence (NDF) is proposed for border security. CCTV/ PTZ and bullet cameras have been installed in vulnerable areas for improved surveillance. Two additional battalions in anti-infiltration roles have been inducted to maintain robust control over the depth areas of the Jammu Frontier."