Pak SIMs Work Two KM Inside Amritsa Border,Use By Smugglers

Defense News ,India :- In a disconcerting trend along the India-Pakistan border, smugglers have found a new tool to evade detection and coordinate illicit activities within Indian territory – Pakistani SIM cards. A 2013 report from The Times of India highlighted the use of these small and easily concealable cards, allowing smugglers to communicate without fear of interception by Indian authorities.

According to the report, these Pakistani SIM cards are small enough to be discreetly thrown into Indian territory and later retrieved from fields, avoiding detection. This method provides smugglers with an effective means of communication that circumvents the challenges faced by larger and more easily detectable devices, such as drones.

In February 2023, the Border Security Force (BSF) encountered a Pakistani drone carrying 5 kilograms of heroin in the Indian airspace above Kakkar village in Amritsar. The incident shed light on the sophisticated communication strategies employed by smugglers. A source within the BSF revealed, “Sometimes, the Pakistani signal is active a couple of kilometers inside India. The cross-border smuggling coordinators plan for all potential dangers and losses in case any operation goes wrong.”

To further complicate interception efforts, smugglers continually shift their modes of communication. They transition between the internet, social media platforms, Indian SIM cards, and Pakistani SIM cards, creating confusion and misleading Indian cyber teams. Despite successful interceptions of Pakistani drones and substantial seizures of contraband, the adaptability of the enemy's communication strategy poses an ongoing challenge for Indian authorities.

The strategic advantage provided by Pakistani SIM cards lies in their ability to slip through the cracks and evade detection efforts that larger devices might encounter. Additionally, strategically placed Pakistani towers near the border amplify the communication range, allowing signals to penetrate up to two kilometers inside Indian territory.

This communication edge facilitates smoother smuggling operations, enabling drones carrying illicit substances, explosives, and weapons to conduct more airdrops than the BSF and state police can effectively intercept. Smugglers, cognizant of the risks involved, meticulously plan for potential losses, ensuring the overall profitability of their operations.

The exploitation of Pakistani SIM cards poses a significant security threat along the India-Pakistan border, requiring a comprehensive and adaptive response from Indian authorities. As technology evolves, authorities must enhance their capabilities to counter the ever-changing strategies employed by smugglers, safeguarding the border and the nation's security.