STATE TIMES NEWS
PATHANKOT: Six militants who attacked Pathankot Air base have been confirmed killed, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Tuesday, adding that the four-day-old operation to secure the compound was still under way.
Addressing reporters at the base near the border with Pakistan, Parrikar said Indian security forces “have done an excellent job containing these highly motivated terrorists”.
He also said that there are some indications that material that has been recovered so far is made in Pakistan.
“NIA already has started the investigation, since the operation is still on. I would not like to conclude on that and let NIA collect information,” Parrikar said. “Security personnel killed in the attack will get ‘battle casualty status’ and all its benefits. 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.
“My worry was how they have (terrorists) managed to come inside (IAF Base). Though I congratulate security forces for containing them in a and not allowing them to go beyond that corner,” he said.
He added that the BSF has already been asked to give details of areas from where terrorists could have entered.
Calling the counter-terror operation as “very difficult”, Parrikar said that all assets–strategic and buildings–and the families, were secured. The only building that was damaged is the one in which the terrorists were holed up, he said.
He complimented the joint efforts of Army, Air Force, and the National Security Guards (NSG) and said that they should undertake joint training in future.
Brushing aside criticism over opting for NSG for the main role rather than the Special Forces of the Army, he said “50 per cent of the NSG is made up of the army only. All assets were provided by the army and they worked together smoothly”.
The minister said the initial focus was to secure all the assets at the base where 3,000 families were staying besides the foreign trainees from five to six countries.
Asked about the failure of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in stopping the infiltration from Pakistan, Parrikar referred to media reports which said that “the BSF has already been asked to give details of areas from where terrorists could have entered”.
He said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing the case and it will not be proper for him to divulge details as it was the matter of ongoing investigation.
Parrikar said a security audit of all defence installations is being carried out.
According to the details given by him, the encounter started at 3:30 AM on Saturday and the last contact with the terrorists was made at about 7:30 PM on Sunday.
Parrikar said the operation after that was for combing purpose as there were a lot of live bombs and hence there was delay in retrieving the body.
He added that the body of the sixth terrorist was yet to be retrieved as agencies apprehend it could be a booby-trap.
“I have said there is no need to rush,” he said adding that the forces should take its time to avoid any more casualty.
“We cannot take a risk. We have already lost one personnel in a booby trap. We should not lose any more,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, the US expects Pakistan will take action against the perpetrators of the terror attack on IAF Base in Pathankot, a top American official said, hours after Islamabad said it is working on the “leads” provided by India.
“The Government of Pakistan has spoken very powerfully to this and it’s certainly our expectation that they’ll treat this exactly the way they’ve said they would,” State Department Spokesman John Kirby said.
