The finding of Parliamentary panel has vindicated the fears people had about the role of ‘inside job’ in the terrorist attack on the Pathankot Air Base. The role of Punjab Police had been under shadow after the Dinangar terrorist attack and after six months Pathankot saw the similar type of incident where despite concrete and credible intelligence inputs received from abducted and released SP of Pathankot and his friend and through interception of communication between terrorists and their handlers by the terrorists disclosing that they were planning an attack on a defence establishment, the security agencies were so ill-prepared to anticipate threats in time and counter them swiftly and decisively. Surprisingly the 2nd January attack at Pathankot had come despite the prior information given to police and has exposed the weak links in the counter terrorism and security of the vital defence establishments. The growing nexus of police and drug cartel in Punjab has come under security agencies radar and has raised apprehension. Weapons, ammunition and many items found in the possession of killed terrorists are also said to be having ‘Made in Pakistan’ marking. In view of the ease with which the terrorists sneaked into our side from Pakistan, the committee understands that the attack cannot take place without active support from the security and intelligence agencies of Pakistan as four armed men cannot easily pass through heavy Pakistani defence establishment situated near border area. The panel said it failed to understand why the terrorists let the SP and his friend off, which should be thoroughly examined by National Investigation Agency. The role of Punjab Police is also very questionable and suspicious as even after abduction of a Punjab Police SP, the police took a long time in arriving at the conclusion that their abduction was not just a criminal robbery but it was going to be serious national security threat. The role of narco-syndicate active in border areas of Punjab might have facilitated by networks used by smugglers to infiltrate the border, shelter and carry out terror attack. The government should pay attention to effectively sealing the border through enhanced patrolling, fencing, flood lighting etc in view of these attacks and nail the culprits and expose the truth.
