4 gunmen killed in attack on India airbase

Suspected Pakistani terrorists attacked an Air Force Base in Pathankot in the early hours of Saturday, triggering an encounter in which four terrorists were killed. At least two Indian soldiers were also killed in the ongoing violence.

Baba said that there were elements in both countries that would like to see the peace process fizzle out.

“It may lead to a momentary pause in the…dialogue and attacks from the (Indian parliamentary) opposition for not pursuing a harder line, but I don’t think it will have a long-term impact”. Once inside, they opened fire indiscriminately. An air force worker has also been killed and six security officers have been injured. A Reuters witness said he saw two tanks go into the base.

DIG (Border) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said that helicopters have also been dispatched to the area for assistance in operation.

Pakistan condemned the attack and said it wanted to build on the goodwill created in the recent high-level contacts.

“These kinds of attacks are nothing new and have generally been the outcome of the dispute of India and Pakistan over Kashmir”, said Noor Ahmed Baba, a political scientist at Central University in Indian Kashmir’s capital, Srinagar.

The armed terrorists, who the abducted SP had told the police were in army fatigues, were able to move around in the area, probably on foot.

Reports said the militants might belong to a group called “Jaish-e-Mohammed”, which is from Kashmir but is now operating from Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala raised concerns over the national security.

The attack was reminiscent of the Gurdaspur strike previous year when a number of militants crossed border from Pakistan and attacked the border town in Punjab. The technical area of the airbase is safe while the entire area has been cordoned off. There has been no damage to helicopters and MiG-29 fighter jets stationed at the base. The government said the gunmen had been prevented from entering the area where “high-value assets are parked”.

NSG team and Garud Commando Force were rushed to the air base.

The locals set the effigy on fire and held Pakistan responsible for continued terror attacks in Punjab even as they demanded that stern action be taken against it.