The Border Security Force (BSF) started 'Operation Sard Hawa' on Thursday and has heightened vigilance along the Indo-Pak border, maintaining a high alert status until January 27.

Operation Sard Hawa is a part of BSF's annual winter exercise aimed at averting unwanted border incidents, including cross-border intrusions, particularly in the challenging conditions of low temperatures and dense fog. Infiltrators often take advantage of dense fog to cross the border. Considering this, the BSF remains on high alert during the winter season. It involves constant patrolling by vehicles, camels, and other means in areas where vehicles cannot easily reach, said officials.

Every year around Republic Day, a special alert is sounded along the border for about 10 days. However, due to the Ram Mandir consecration on January 22, this year, it has been issued for 15 days.

Officials said that the BSF, as the first line of defence, remains vigilant throughout the year, with additional surveillance programs during Republic Day.

BSF officials emphasize that despite adverse weather conditions, personnel remain vigilant to potential threats, particularly during Operation Sard Hawa. Throughout this period, all officers and soldiers from the sector headquarters will be stationed on the border. Additional officers have been deployed to uplift the morale of the soldiers, and this heightened state of readiness will be maintained until January 27, as per their statement

As per an intelligence report, there is a potential for six distinct threats along the India-Pakistan border on January 26 this year. Sources have indicated that Pakistan Rangers and ISI are allegedly assisting in the infiltration of terrorists through the 'Masroor Bada Bhai,' identified as one of the launch pads utilized by foreign terrorists for entry into Jammu and Kashmir.

Moreover, terrorists based in Pakistan are reportedly sending significant quantities of China-made weapons and drugs into India using pre-programmed drones. The involvement of Pakistan Rangers and ISI in facilitating these activities has also been alleged.

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