Pathankot attack: Operation to secure air base over; ‘JeM claimed responsibility,’ says army
Pathankot: A major operation to secure an Indian air force base attacked by suspected Islamist militants has ended, police said Saturday, 14 hours after gunmen wearing army uniforms infiltrated the installation in northern Punjab state.
"The operation is just over. All terrorists are dead," Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, Deputy Inspector General of police for Pathankot region, told AFP.
Singh did not confirm reports that up to three Indian security personnel had been killed carrying out the operation.
The attackers, suspected to be from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed Islamist group, struck at Pathankot air base at around 3:30 am (2200 GMT) Saturday.
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"They are from Jaish, Jaish has claimed responsibility," Indian army Lieutenant General Satish Dua told reporters in televised remarks.
The gunbattle between terrorists and security forces at the Air Force Base lasted for more than five hours and left at least three Air personnel and four terrorists dead.
In view of the attack, Punjab had been put on maximum alert while security measures were also tightened in neighbouring Haryana and common capital of the two states, Chandigarh.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said any attack will be given a befitting reply even as India wants good relations with Pakistan. "Pakistan is our neighbouring country. We want good relations with not just Pakistan but with all our neighbours. We also want peace but if there is any terror attack on India, we will give a befitting reply," he said.
Security establishment was already on alert and anticipating an attack after an SP of Punjab Police was abducted by a group of men in army uniform on Thursday night.
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Yesterday, a series of meetings were held by NSA with army chief and top IB officers in this regard. Subsequently the army was put on alert and NSG commandos were rushed to Pathankot overnight.
The attack comes just a week after Prime Minister Modi made an unscheduled visit to Pakistan and met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
It is the second big terror attack in Punjab within less than a year as last year three militants stormed a police station in Dina Nagar before being eliminated after a 12- hour gun battle.
