Top Pakistani, Indian officials to meet on Jan 15

“They are our pride”, Modi tweeted.

It follows criticism from the opposition Congress party of the apparent security lapse that allowed the militants to infiltrate the strategically important base.

“The combing operation at the Air Force station is over”, a senior IAF official said, adding the entire area has been sanitised.

The prime minister arrived here on Saturday morning for an assessment of the attack.

As the key airbase is on the frontline, no live telecast of the visit was allowed.

The base was kept out of bounds for the media. The security forces not only repulsed the attack but prevented any harm to the IAF ” s critical assets, including fighter aircraft and helicopters and ammunition dump.

Kerry’s call to Sharif came amid Indian intelligence reports suggesting that Pakistan-based terror outfits have carried out the attack on the Pathankot air base.

The Nation quoted an official as saying that the leads provided by India were handed over to IB chief Aftab Sultan for further action.

Modi’s visit to the base on Saturday comes amid an ongoing investigation by India’s National Investigation Agency into the circumstances of the attack.

India has also handed over to Pakistan intercepts of phone calls made by the six terrorists to their handlers in Pakistan. Sharif had also telephoned his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and assured him of “prompt and decisive action”.

Militant organisation Jaish-e-Muhammad was behind the attack, Indian officials said.

Kerry rang Prime Minister Sharif amid speculations in India that the talks depend on action by Pakistani authorities on the leads India has shared with them about the attack.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has said communication between India and Pakistan is a “hopeful sign” that the two countries will be able to resolve their concerns bilaterally despite the terror attack in Pathankot.

Addressing the meeting, Sharif said Pakistan was ready to boost cooperation with India as part of counter-terrorism efforts.

At least seven Indian troops and five attackers have been killed in the three days.

He emphasized on the need to strengthen the Border Security Force (BSF) strength in the Punjab sector to prevent any infiltration from Pakistan side.

The Pak Advisor in a written reply during the Question Hour, said that Foreign Secretaries would discuss the modalities of comprehensive bilateral dialogues and its timeframe during the meeting in Islamabad this month.