Firozpur, May 10, 2025: In a serious escalation of cross-border hostilities, a Pakistani drone struck a residential area in Punjab’s Firozpur district on the night of May 9, injuring three members of a local family. The attack, which occurred in Khai Pheme Ki village in Firozpur, marks one of the first instances of a Pakistani drone directly hitting civilian homes, intensifying already strained relations between India and Pakistan.
People injured in Pakistan drone attack in Firozpur, Punjab, India; Drones neutralised#ferozpur #DroneAttack #punjab #amritsar #OperationSindoor pic.twitter.com/PZH3SSiS3h
— Paras Bhandari (@iam_parass) May 9, 2025
According to local authorities, the drone dropped an incendiary payload that exploded near a house in Firozpur, causing severe burn injuries to the residents. The injured were identified as Lakhwinder Singh, his wife Sukhvinder Kaur, and his brother Monu Singh. All three were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors reported that Sukhvinder Kaur is in critical condition.
This alarming incident is part of a broader pattern. On the same night, Indian defense forces reported drone activity in at least 26 locations stretching across India’s western border—from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat. Many of these drones were reportedly neutralized mid-air by Indian forces using anti-drone defense systems, but the Firozpur attack has sparked fresh concerns over civilian safety and national security.
The Indian government has responded by tightening security across border areas, including in Firozpur. Evacuations have begun in vulnerable villages, and authorities have imposed precautionary blackouts in several districts to prevent further drone sightings and attacks. Public institutions such as schools and coaching centers have been temporarily shut down in Firozpur and affected regions to minimize civilian exposure.
This incident comes amid an overall increase in hostilities, with both nations exchanging diplomatic warnings and military posturing intensifying in recent weeks. While India has maintained a defensive posture, recent incidents—including Pakistan's alleged support for cross-border terrorist activities—have led to growing calls within the country for strong retaliatory measures.
The drone strike in Firozpur has also drawn the attention of the international community. The United States, while urging restraint from both nations, has initiated backchannel communications to de-escalate the crisis. Officials in Washington have emphasized the importance of dialogue and regional stability, warning that further escalations could have global consequences.
Meanwhile, experts are raising the alarm over the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in asymmetric warfare. Unlike traditional military assets, drones offer low-cost, high-impact ways to conduct surveillance and targeted strikes, especially in border areas like Firozpur, where conventional troop deployment may be limited or politically sensitive.
The Firozpur drone attack, targeting civilians directly, has added a disturbing new dimension to the conflict. Indian defense analysts are calling for rapid deployment of advanced anti-drone technologies and improved intelligence sharing to prevent such incidents in the future.
As investigations continue and the injured family receives treatment, India faces the pressing challenge of balancing national security with civilian protection in an increasingly volatile border environment. The Firozpur incident has not only fueled public outrage but has also deepened concerns about the evolving nature of modern warfare between neighboring nuclear-armed states. The growing use of drones in such attacks could change the landscape of future conflicts, particularly in sensitive regions like Firozpur.
