India and Pakistan escalate arms race with heavy focus on drones

Following the recent escalation in the Kashmir region between India and Pakistan, both countries are investing heavily in drones. According to Reuters, based on interviews with fifteen involved parties, including security officials, leading figures in the defense industry, and analysts, a new arms race between India and Pakistan seems to have begun.

In early May, the Indian air defense system fired at drones originating from neighboring Pakistan. Both countries have been at odds for decades, but May marked the first time that both sides deployed unmanned aerial vehicles on a large scale.

Direct combat between the two countries has ceased due to U.S. intervention. However, it now appears that both powers are engaged in an arms race with drones. Reuters spoke with several involved parties, and two of them expect the use of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to increase in the near future. Small-scale drones can hit targets without endangering the operators.