However, officials in Delhi would not confirm whether any leads had been shared from the ongoing situation at the Pathankot Air Force base, where a sixth terrorist was killed on Monday evening, and whether either External Affairs Ministry officials or the National Security Advisers had been in touch.
Advertisement
An official source said there is “high probability” that at least two terrorists entered the Indian Air Force base before superintendent of police Salwinder Singh, his jeweller friend Rajesh Verma and Singh’s cook were abducted and their vehicle taken away, on December 31.
The “terror strike at Pathankot air base was a fidayeen (suicide) attack; objective was to cause loss to its strategic assets”, finance minister Arun Jaitley was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency. “One of them was killed in this firefight on Monday”, sources said adding after hours of no firing or explosion being heard, there was sporadic gunfire at about 5.30 pm on Monday. Officials believe one terrorist remains on the site.
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi had said on Sunday that the safety forces had confirmed the presence of two extra terrorists on the air drive station.
“But every inch of the air base has to be secured before we call off the operation”, said the official in New Delhi, who requested anonymity. While the operation is not over – the entire area has to be combed – the last live engagement with terrorists was on Sunday night.
The UJC spokesperson clarified that militants in Kashmir have been fighting Indian Forces from last 27 years and during this period India adopted all available means to crush the Kashmir Movement.
India blamed the ISI for launching the parliament attack and deployed its army to its borders with Pakistan, bringing the nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of war.
The Indian security forces, meanwhile, continued combing the vast Pathankot airbase, 476km north of New Delhi, three days after armed gunmen stormed it, killing seven military personnel and wounding 22.
Indian security forces patrol inside the Indian air force base that came under attack Saturday in Pathankot, India, Jan. 3, 2016.
He also stressed that there had been no damage to any of the valuable air assets at the base, including aircraft and helicopters, and no casualties among the civilians in the area. It is also very close to India’s border with Pakistan.
Government officials said that whenever the two sides meet, be it at the Foreign Secretary-level or in National Security Advisor – level, all proof of Pakistani links of the terrorists would be given for action.
Advertisement
All political parties in India have condemned the attack, but there were no demands that the government call off the talks with Pakistan.
