India says all 6 militants killed in air base siege

While Indian security forces continue clearance operation at Pathankot airbase and Indian media is raising figers at Pakistan for the terrorist attack, the Chinese foreign ministry has termed the attack as an attempt to disrupt improving Pak-India ties. A statement issued on her behalf said: “She hoped that Union Government is seized of the serious internal security situation amidst emanating intelligence reports of more terrorist modules and is taking all necessary steps to neutralize the terror threats besides ensuring adequate security of citizens and strategic assets”. The terrorist had snatched at least four mobile phones after hijacking the vehicle of Punjab Police SP Salwinder Singh, his jeweller friend Rajesh Verma and Singh’s cook and at least two of these phones were used to call their handlers in Pakistan.

In the first known claim of responsibility, the United Jehad Council, an alliance of 13 Kashmir-based rebel groups, claimed that its “highway squad”, which normally attacks military convoys, carried out the attack. Senior government officials said that the operations would not be declared closed till every inch of the base, which is spread around 25 km of area, is combed.

Notwithstanding the Pathankot attack, the risk of a large-scale attack in a major Indian city over the next year will most likely come from a home-grown militant group, recruited or inspired by Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and/or the Islamic State. “I think let the operations get over and it is only then government takes a view on such matters”, he told reporters when asked about the impact of the terror attack on the planned India-Pakistan talks.

The official also told that they will continue the operation till the area is rendered safely.

The activists later took out a march in the city in protest against the attack on the airbase and demanded that India sever all relations with Pakistan. By evening one had been shot dead, Singh said.

Punjab Police on Monday arrested three men linked to smuggling gangs and recovered sophisticated weapons with Pakistani and Chinese markings from them. Sources said the final count of terrorists involved in the attack would be clear only after completion of the operation, the final stages of which saw the building from which fire was being directed being blown up.

Seven security personnel, including an officer of the National Security Guards (NSG), an IAF Garud commando and five Defence Services Corps (DSC) personnel, were killed by the terrorists. Seventeen security personnel were also injured. In a separate editorial piece, Dawn also speaks highly of Pakistan government’s quick gesture in codemning the attack on the air base.