India on its knees for return of drone taken down by Pakistan: Analyst Abdullah Hameed Gul

Senior defence analyst Muhammad Abdullah Hameed Gul has revealed that India is desperately pleading for the return of a drone that was reportedly taken down by the Pakistani military after it violated Pakistani airspace on August 23.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Gul stated that contrary to India's claim that the drone landed in Pakistani territory due to a technical fault during a routine training exercise, the drone was actually brought under control by Pakistan’s military.

Gul further disclosed that India contacted Pakistan through a hotline, seeking the return of the drone and suggesting that the issue be escalated to discussions at the level of Director General Military Operations (DGMO).

However, the analyst suggested that such contact at the DGMO level is typically reserved for more significant issues, such as the 2018 incident where India violated Pakistani airspace and faced a robust response from Pakistan, including the downing of an Indian fighter jet.

The defence analyst speculated that the drone in question might not be a mere training device, as India claims, but potentially a stealth drone used for espionage purposes. He pointed out that this incident, along with previous occurrences such as the fall of an Indian sonic missile in Pakistani territory in March 2022, raises concerns about the reliability of India’s defence industry.

Gul also criticized India's defence capabilities, citing past failures like the malfunctioning assault rifles developed in 2016 and the lengthy development process of the Tejas fighter aircraft, which took 14 years to address flaws identified in its initial test flight.

Despite India's efforts to sell the Tejas to other countries, including Malaysia and Argentina, both nations ultimately rejected the aircraft after thorough inspections, with Malaysia opting for a deal with South Korea instead.

The analyst concluded that these incidents reflect the ongoing challenges within India’s defence industry, which he argues has struggled to become self-sufficient even after 77 years, leading to continued reliance on foreign technology and significant defence expenditures.