Pathankot attack: Take firm action, Modi tells Sharif

Officials said they had received intelligence about a possible attack and had beefed up security at the air field and repulsed the attackers before they reached any sensitive areas.

The defence minister, who visited the base on Tuesday, said that combing operations will continue until Wednesday to make sure that no other attackers or booby traps remain at the facility that houses a fleet of Russian-origin MiG-21 fighter jets and attack helicopters, along with other military hardware. A civilian was also killed during the attack, an official said Saturday. The policeman was freed the next day, and warned security forces that a team of heavily armed militants was in the region.

In the first apparent claim of responsibility, the United Jehad Council, an alliance of 13 Kashmir-based rebel groups, claimed its “highway squad” stormed the base.

The South Asian neighbours have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947, two over the disputed Kashmir region – which is claimed in its entirety by both.

Sharad Kumar, chief of India’s National Investigation Agency, has said that telephone intercepts suggested the attackers were from Pakistan. The attack has proven that our borders are not safe, India’s internal security is in shambles and the only national work being done is giving condolences to the martyred on social networking sites, the Sena said in a hard-hitting editorial in party mouthpiece “Saamana”.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday promised his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi that Islamabad will take “prompt and decisive action” against terrorists linked to the attack on the IAF base in Pathankot.

Sunil was being paid for the information he passed on to the Pakistani woman.

Sharif also told Modi that the militants wanted to derail the Pakistan-India peace process, according to Pakistani Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid.

All the attackers were killed in the two days of gunbattles. Pakistan denies that and says it only provides moral and diplomatic support.