Defence Minister admits ‘security lapses’ lead to Pathankot terror attack

Security forces made an all-out attempt to catch one of the terrorists entrenched at the Pathankot air base alive after instructions from the Centre before reducing the building to rubble late on Sunday night, reported ET.

Parrikar declined to comment on the origin of the terrorists or how they entered the base.

The head of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the audacious terrorist strike, also visited the base separately.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar along with Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag will visit the Pathankot Air Base, which was attacked by Pakistani terrorists on Saturday. “I see some gaps, that will be cleared after the investigation is over. but I don’t think we have made any compromise on security”, he added.

He also said that there are some indications that material that has been recovered so far is made in Pakistan. The minister also added that all defence bases are being audited now.

The Pathankot incident took the government completely off gear and raised questions over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to normalise ties with Pakistan.

The Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan scheduled for January 14-15 in Islamabad looks in jeopardy in the wake of the Pathankot attack. He said calling off the combing operations would be the prerogative of the National Security Guard.

Investigators believe the attack may have been carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammed, the Pakistan-based terror group which claims commitment to winning independence for Kashmir. “A four-day-old operation to secure the compound is still under way”, he said. The DSC officials were caught unaware and they were unarmed when the terrorists attacked the air force station.

“Five Defence Security Corps personnel died because more of a bad luck”.