Probe militant claim on Pathankot attack

Responding to another question, Mr Earnest said that it is in the interest of Pakistan to take actions against terrorist groups.

Five attackers have also been eliminated, but an operation was still under way to secure the sprawling compound in Indian Punjab that lies 25 km from the India-Pakistan border.

Parrikar did not explain how just a handful of gunmen managed to paralyse a large air base for nearly four days, insisting that security forces had done “a commendable job”.

Reports suggest that India expects Pakistan to take action against the leaders of terrorist group Jaish-e-Muhammaed, which scripted the attack on Pathankot, as a pre-condition for the talks.

NIA chief Sharad Kumar today said there was little doubt that the attackers were from Pakistan.

PPrime Minister Narendra Modi’s sudden turnabout in talks with Pakistan was hailed as an act of statesmanship.

The Pathankot air base remained operational throughout the terror attack that started on Saturday morning, the Indian Air Force said on Wednesday.

A top American lawmaker has called for re-evaluation of aid to Pakistan in the aftermath of the attack on IAF base in Pathankot, saying the U.S. should not provide assistance to nations that help terrorists. Following the October 5, 1985, hijacking and killing by suspected Libyan-supported terrorists of one American tourist on the Achille Lauro ship cruising in the Mediterranean, the United States of America issued a stern warning to the then Libyan president Gaddafi, When an American soldier was killed on April 4, 1986, by a bomb-blast set off by Libyan-supported terrorists at a German night-club in West Berlin, the American president Ronald Reagan ordered the U.S. air force to attack Gaddafi’s base in the Libyan desert on April 14, 1986.

The role of the Punjab Police Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh, who claimed he was abducted by the terrorists who attacked the Pathankot air base, was put under the scanner on Tuesday evening, as a team of NIA officials questioned him at his residence in Gurdaspur.

“We understand the pain of many families who have lost their dear ones in this tragedy, as Pakistan itself is a major victim of terrorism”. Officials have said no military hardware has been damaged in the fighting.

In the absence of a CDS, it is left to the defence minister to co-ordinate.

“Through timely and prompt action by all agencies, the likely plan of the terrorists to destroy valuable assets of the Air Force has been foiled”, the Indian Defense Ministry had said in a statement at the time.

Parrikar admitted to “gaps” which led to “security lapses” at the air base. “I have said there is no need to rush”, the minister said, adding that the forces should take ensure there were no more casualties.