Pak’s use of teenagers for terrorism

December 2, 2025

Pakistani smugglers have exploited a loophole in India’s Juvenile Act, using teenage boys to smuggle weapons and drugs into India for terrorist activities. According to recent reports, when Pakistan uses drones to deliver contraband, these teenagers transport and distribute the items throughout the country. This new development reveals a strategic shift in smuggling practices across the border.
This has been confirmed by senior police officers and Border Security Force officials. It has been reported that during a major campaign against drugs and weapons currently underway in Punjab, teenage boys were arrested during raids working as couriers. Pakistani base handlers were recruiting these teenagers and extorting them for a few thousand rupees or even a mobile phone. When these boys become criminals, their teenage age allows them to receive lenient sentences, which is why they agree to this work. Thus, the Juvenile Act’s exemptions prove helpful to these criminals. Officials report that smuggler handlers hiding in Pakistan recruit minors from families suffering from poverty and unemployment in the border areas of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Ferozepur districts.
It is reported that this recruitment network has expanded throughout the border areas. The cross-border network is now targeting children. DIG Border Range Sandeep Goyal stated that families, communities, and the state should be vigilant to disrupt this network. Recently, on November 1st, police apprehended a group of seven minors with 15 pistols. Previously, on October 2nd, police seized 12 pistols imported from a neighboring country, and one of the five arrested was a minor. In March, Ferozepur police arrested a minor with 4 kilograms of heroin. In recent months, more minors have been caught carrying drug packages and weapons. The number of minor boys caught so far is estimated to be 15 to 20. They’re willing to sell themselves for a few thousand rupees, a new mobile phone, or the promise of free drugs. This is a cunning situation, and the solution lies in proper education and parental guidance, which is lacking these days.