Bhagwant Mann Seeks Army Chief’s Help to Boost Punjab’s Anti-Drone Border Surveillance

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth in Chandigarh on Monday to review national security, border management and defence-related issues concerning the state, with a particular focus on counter-drone preparedness along the Pakistan border and closer coordination between civil and military agencies.

During the interaction, Mann pressed for stronger institutional coordination between the Punjab government and the Indian Army, saying such cooperation was necessary for the security of both the state and the country. He also called for bolstering the second line of defence along the border and improving cooperation between the Army and state security agencies.

One of the central issues discussed was the need to expand anti-drone surveillance and response capabilities along Punjab’s international border with Pakistan. Mann highlighted the growing challenge posed by drones being used for cross-border smuggling and other security threats, and stressed the need for enhanced anti-drone systems as well as low-lying interceptive radars to monitor and counter such activity.

Punjab’s 532-km border with Pakistan makes low-altitude surveillance a major operational requirement. In that context, the Chief Minister sought the Army Chief’s support for strengthening the capabilities of the Punjab Police, which he described as an important second line of defence in the border security architecture.

Mann said the state had already moved to improve its counter-drone preparedness and claimed that Punjab was the first state in the country to install its own anti-drone technology. He said evolving threats along the border would require continued technological upgrades and closer coordination with the armed forces.

The meeting also turned to military recruitment, with Mann reiterating the Punjab government’s push to encourage more young people from the state to join the armed forces. He said Punjabis have historically made a major contribution to the defence of the country’s borders and indicated that the state wants to sustain and expand that tradition.

In this context, he referred to the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute for Girls and the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute, as well as the network of C-PyTE centres, as key state-backed institutions helping prepare youth for military careers.

Issues relating to the welfare of serving soldiers and ex-servicemen also figured in the discussions. Mann told the Army Chief that the Punjab government remained committed to supporting veterans and pointed to measures intended to create employment opportunities for ex-servicemen working through the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation.

The Chief Minister also informed General Seth that the state government had allotted 200 acres of prime land in Ropar to the Army. According to Mann, the land could be used to support and strengthen activities linked to the defence sector.

Recalling Punjab’s longstanding role in national security, Mann said the state would continue to uphold its tradition of contributing to the unity and integrity of the country. He also thanked the Army for assisting people in Punjab during times of crisis, especially during the recent floods.

General Dhiraj Seth, for his part, expressed gratitude to the Punjab government for the policies and initiatives it has undertaken for the welfare of veterans. The meeting also served as a platform for both sides to identify areas where closer coordination between civil authorities and the armed forces is required.

Those present at the meeting included Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Ravi Bhagat, Special DGP PK Sinha, Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh and other senior officials.

The discussions in Chandigarh brought together several strands of Punjab’s security agenda: border vigilance, counter-drone capability, support for military recruitment, defence-related infrastructure and the welfare of veterans. Together, these issues pointed to the state government’s effort to deepen civil-military cooperation in a border state facing persistent cross-border security challenges.