Gunmen target Indian airforce base in Punjab, 4 terrorists, 3 soldiers killed

The gunmen were in army fatigues and could infiltrate the Pathankot air base before dawn and resorted to firing indiscriminately. 

 

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar held a high level meeting following the attack, which killed three IAF men. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said a befitting reply would be given. 

 

According to an Indian  Air Force (IAF) release, intelligence inputs had been available of a likely attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into the military installation in Pathankot area.  In response, preparatory actions had been taken by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to thwart any such attempt, it said. 

 

Defence sources have been quoted as saying that the surviving terrorists may be now out of the air base.

 

An army helicopter conducted sorties to trace the surviving terrorists, said to be belonging to the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The attackers were reportedly from Bhawalpur in Pakistan and were ordered to blow up the helicopters stationed at the base

The terror attack came  within 10 days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goodwill visit to Pakistan. Union Home Minister  Rajnath Singh said, "We want good ties with Pakistan but a befitting reply will be given to any terror attack."

Intelligence inputs had warned about a possibility of an attack at Pathankot -- a key air base for MiG-21 Bison fighters and Mi-35 attack helicopters, located 50 km from the border with Pakistan.

According to reports, the terrorists were contained in periphery of the air base.  The area where fighter aircraft and helicopters are kept is reportedly safe.

The attack was launched around 3 30 am after the terrorists entered the air base, located 50 km from the border with Pakistan and 200 kilometers from state capital Chandigarh, in an official vehicle. They were wearing military uniform.

Two teams of the army's special forces, along with National Security Guard and air force's Garuda commandos lead the assault on the terrorists. Army's Casspir armoured personnel carriers were used to close in on the block.

The vehicle used by the terrorists reportedly was the car of the Superintendent of Police of Gurdaspur that was 'hijacked' in Pathankot on Friday by men in army fatigues. 
The attack is suspected to have been carried out by the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

 

Soon after the attack, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, tweeted, "That was quick. Here's the first major challenge to the PM Modi's bold Pakistan gambit."

The  attack comes six months after another terror strike in Punjab's Gurdaspur, when three terrorists  opened fire in Dinanagar killing three civilians. The terrorists were shot dead after a 12-hour long gunbattle.

 

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi  condemned the  terror attack at Pathankot Air Force base.

"Strongly condemn terrorist attack on Pathankot AirForce Base. My deepest condolences to families of the brave soldiers martyred in the attack,"Office of RG tweeted.

Meanwhile, Pakistan on Saturday condemned the terror attack.