On Pak TV show, Shehbaz aide admits drones are dropping drugs in Punjab

In a video tweeted by him on July 17, Mir is seen asking Khan a question on cross-border smuggling of narcotics in Kasur, to which Khan replies in the affirmative. “Yes, and it (smuggling) is very scary,” Khan said. “Recently there have been two incidents where 10 kg heroin was tied to each drone and thrown across. Agencies are trying to stop this.”

Captioning the video, Mir later wrote: “Big disclosure by PM’s advisor Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan. Smugglers using drones in the flood affected areas of Kasur near the Pakistan-India border to transport heroin. He demanded a special package for the rehabilitation of the flood victims, otherwise victims will join smugglers.”

Big disclosure by PM’s advisor Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan. Smugglers using drones In the flood affected areas of Kasur near Pakistan-India border to transport Heroin. He demanded a special package for the rehabilitation of the flood victims otherwise victims will join smugglers. pic.twitter.com/HhWNSNuiKp

— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) July 17, 2023

Kasur is situated just across Punjab’s Khemkaran and Ferozepur. According to data released by Punjab Police earlier this month, 795 FIRs were registered under the NDPS Act from July 2022-2023 in Ferozepur district alone. Most of the drugs were seized from those districts of Punjab that border Pakistan, the data showed.

When contacted, a senior BSF officer in Punjab said cross-border smuggling of drugs and arms has continued through use of drones despite India having repeatedly raised the issue with Pakistan.

The official, who did not wish to be named, said that this year alone 260 kg of heroin, 19 arms, 30 magazines, 470 rounds of ammunition and 30 Pakistani drones were recovered from Punjab’s border areas.

Speaking to The Indian Express on phone from Pakistan, Mir said Khan’s comments are the first admission of drugs being smuggled from Pakistan using drones. He said the fact that the admission came from Khan is significant.

“Malik Mohammad Ahmad Khan is an MPA from Kasur and he is very close to the political and military establishment in Pakistan. He was very close to the previous Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and also to the present military hierarchy,” said Mir.

When asked what prompted him to ask the question on smuggling of drugs using drones, Mir said he had been touring Kasur, which is surrounded by India on three sides.

“These villagers (in Kasur) say they get no mobile signals. They spoke about movement of drones and smuggling of drugs from Pakistan into India and liquor from India into Pakistan. Khan told me that mobile signals here are jammed by security agencies due to cross-border drone movements,” said Mir.

Mir added that after the video was aired, Khan came under a lot of fire from his country’s establishment.

“He is the local MPA and he has been trying for the PM to visit this area. He has faced criticism for his comments… he is also facing much backlash from his constituents for the lack of mobile phone connectivity and has tried to justify the same by citing examples of drug smuggling,” said Mir.

Calls and messages to Khan for comments did not yield any response.