Chandigarh, October 16, 2025: Punjab has witnessed a sharp increase in arms smuggling from Pakistan, with 362 weapons—including AK-47 rifles, grenades, and improvised explosive devices—seized so far this year, compared to just 81 in 2024. Officials and security experts attribute the surge to retaliatory measures following India’s precision strikes on terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor. Nearly one-third of the recoveries occurred after the operation.
Over 50 individuals have been arrested in connection with the smuggling network. Some were caught collecting weapons dropped via drones, while others were intended recipients tasked with carrying out terror strikes. For the first time in three years, three AK-47 rifles were seized, marking a notable escalation in the sophistication of arms infiltrating the state; the last such seizure was in October 2022.
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said, “We have managed to pre-empt the smuggling of sophisticated weapons and thwarted several terrorism plans hatched from across the border.” He credited the coordinated efforts of Punjab Police, its counter-intelligence units including the Special Services Operation Cell, the Border Security Force, and central agencies for the seizures.
Investigations indicate that gangsters and terrorists operating from countries such as the US and Canada have been supplying arms to terror outfits like Babbar Khalsa International while fuelling organized crime locally. “The ISI is leveraging a nexus of gangsters, drug smugglers, and terrorists to sow chaos in Punjab. Recovered arms are linked to violent crimes, including extortion, targeted killings, and inter-gang rivalries,” an official said.
The official added that these activities form part of a broader ISI strategy to destabilize law and order and advance the secessionist Khalistan ideology. The scale of smuggling this year reportedly exceeds the combined total for 2021–2024.
Recovered weapons include sophisticated models such as 9mm Glocks, PX5 pistols, and .30, .32, and .315 bore firearms, often accompanied by magazines and live ammunition. Since 2022, Glocks and PX5 variants sourced directly from Pakistan have dominated seizures, designed for high-impact terrorist and criminal operations.
Smuggling methods have evolved, with drones increasingly used for deliveries while riverine routes remain active during the monsoon season, exploiting higher water flows and reduced visibility. Officials noted that interdiction has become more challenging, requiring constant vigilance.
Punjab’s border districts—Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Batala—remain hotspots for arms infiltration, serving as critical entry points for ISI-directed smuggling networks.
