Dhaka has sought clarification from New Delhi about media reports on the Indian Border Security Force’s plan to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), popularly known as drone, in the sky along the border with Bangladesh. “We have officially taken up the matter with the Indian authorities and sought a clarification in this regard,” Shameem Ahsan, director general (External Publicity) of the Foreign Ministry, told The Independent on Tuesday.
The clarification was sought on Tuesday, he said, without providing details.
According to Indian media reports, BSF is planning to deploy drones along the border with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Quoting senior Indian officials, the reports said that a standard operating procedure was being drafted with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to finalise the modalities of using the UAVs.
“The plan to deploy UAVs is picking up pace… We are actively pursuing it and would like to use them not only on the western border but also on the eastern border with Bangladesh,” BSF director general Subhash Joshi was quoted as saying.
The surveillance machines, which will be flying at an altitude of 10,000-12,000 feet, will capture images and relay real-time information on the movement of infiltrators, if any, anywhere near the border, said a senior Indian officer.
While UAVs are currently being used in Naxal-hit areas, the thick forests there have hindered operations. An officer said the UAVs may prove to be more useful in the border area.
India is already using Long-Range Reconnaissance and Observation System (LORROS), Battlefield Surveillance Radar (BFSR) and night vision devices to enhance surveillance capabilities of the border troops. The BSF had suggested the use of UAVs to the Ministry of Home Affairs last year.
Meanwhile, quoting news agency Press Trust of India (PTI), bdnews24.com reported on Tuesday that BSF chief Subhash Joshi said that the force had made ‘no such deployment’. “We are looking at various technological measures to upgrade security along our borders. However, there is no deployment of UAVs at present as such and no specific proposal in this regard was being considered,” he was quoted as telling PTI.
-With The Independent input
