A screenshot from a video showing a US F-22 approaching the Chinese spy balloon to shoot it down, in February 2023.
New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh’s revenue minister, Jagat Singh Negi, has raised concerns about suspected Chinese drones being spotted near the India-China line of actual control (LAC) in the state’s Kinnaur district. Negi revealed that drones were observed in the Shipki-la and Rishi Dogri areas within Kinnaur’s Pooh block.
Talking to a news agency, he cited locals who have reported frequent sightings over the past week, heightening security concerns.
The minister suggested that the drones, believed to be from China, may be conducting surveillance or espionage activities, particularly in light of ongoing road construction projects aimed at improving access to the disputed LAC in these areas. Negi also mentioned that both Himachal Pradesh Police and Indian Army personnel had corroborated the drone sightings, which has made the situation even more alarming.
He urged the central government to take immediate notice of these incidents and strengthen the region's security measures.
Kinnaur, along with Lahaul and Spiti, shares a 240-kilometre border with China. The region has been a focal point of strategic interest due to its proximity to the border, with numerous high-altitude passes that offer potential entry points. The government’s “Vibrant Village Programme”, which focuses on improving infrastructure in border areas, covers 55 villages in Kinnaur to enhance road connectivity and communication facilities.
IAF shoots down ‘Chinese spy balloons’
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force recently shot down multiple high-altitude Chinese spy balloon-type objects over northern India near the line of actual control (LAC) as a part of drills. These objects, fashioned after Chinese spy balloons, were shot down at very high altitudes.
In the drills, IAF’s quick response ensured that the aerial objects posed no threat to Indian airspace or strategic locations.
Military sources, without revealing the exact locations of the drills involving the balloons, confirmed that the radar systems picked up the stimulated unusual aerial activity near the sensitive border regions. This prompted an immediate scramble of fighter jets from nearby airbases. While some reports said the IAF used its Rafale fighters to down the targets, India Sentinels can’t confirm it.
However, it is known that the IAF routinely employs a range of platforms for air defence, including advanced systems capable of intercepting high-altitude targets.The balloons were brought down in a carefully coordinated operation.
China has been accused globally of deploying such balloons for intelligence gathering, with previous incidents reported in countries like the United States and Japan. It may be noted that the US had shot down a Chinese spy balloon using a F-22 Raptor fighter over American territorial waters in the Atlantic Ocean, in February 2023.
Tensions between India and China have escalated in recent years, particularly along the disputed Himalayan border, especially in eastern Ladakh. This latest incident is seen as a reflection of India’s growing vigilance and military capability in countering threats, including potential threats, posed by evolving Chinese reconnaissance technologies.
