An Indian Army surveillance drone on a routine test training mission accidentally crossed the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Friday, according to officials cited by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

The incident occurred around 9:25 AM in the Bhimber Gali area of the Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir.

The mini-drone, which was engaged in a training exercise “well within Indian territory,” lost connection with its operator due to a technical malfunction, causing it to drift into the Nikial Sector of PoK, opposite the Bhimber Gali Sector, as an Indian Army official told The Hindu newspaper.

Upon losing control of the drone, the Indian Army promptly initiated efforts to communicate with their Pakistani counterparts.

The Pakistani military is reported to have recovered the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) after it crossed the LoC. In response, the Indian Army sent a hotline message to the Pakistani side, requesting the return of the drone.

This incident underscores the ongoing tensions and fragile nature of the LoC, where even minor incidents can lead to heightened alertness on both sides.

The Indian and Pakistani armies maintain direct communication channels to manage such occurrences, aiming to prevent any escalation in the volatile region. The return of the drone is currently awaited.