A day after the Pathankot air force base was attacked by terrorists suspected to be members of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, extensive combing operations continue at the base as well as the village. Seven security personnel have lost their lives.
By: Express Web Desk | Pathankot | Updated: January 3, 2016 1:08 pm
Pathankot attack: Security forces stand guard near a road barrier outside an Indian air force base in Pathankot, 430 kilometers (267 miles) north of New Delhi, India, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)
A day after the Pathankot air force base was attacked by terrorists suspected to be members of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, extensive combing operations continue at the base as well as the village. Seven security personnel have lost their lives.
Pakistan on Saturday evening condemned the terror strike and asserted that building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts, it remained committed to partner India in tackling terrorism. The attack comes days after PM Narendra Modi’s unscheduled visit to Pakistan.
Read: Punjab govt yet to decide on handing over probe to NIA
Also Read: Pathankot terrorist called mother: I am going to be a martyr
Also Read: Commonwealth Shooting champion Fateh Singh martyred in the Pathankot attack
Click here to read the news in Hindi
Updates:
12. 30 pm: Lt Col Niranjan of the NSG has lost his life during a combing operation at the Pathankot Air Base. Meanwhile, fresh firing has been reported from inside the Air Force Base, in what could be an indication that the operation is currently on.
“Pained to know about demise of Lt. Col. Niranjan of NSG during mopping out ops at Pathankot. The nation salutes his sacrifice,” Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.
11.15 am: Security personnel have begun extensive combing operations in Akalgarh village and the adjoining areas. Police officials have sealed all approach routes to the village and attack helicopters are flying low over the area.
10.45 am: Three jawans were injured during the combing operations at the air force base, news agency PTI, quoting defence sources, said.
9.00 am (January 3): Search operations resume at Pathankot air base after Saturday’s terror attack. While there were reports of firing being heard inside the base, they were attributed to combing operations. Helicopters were also seen flying over the base, to assist ground staff.
9:45 pm: Compliments to our jawans for their valour and courage while fighting terrorists: President Pranab Mukherjee
9:30 pm: I salute the brave martyrs for making the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our Motherland: Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister
8:55 pm: Security forces should remain vigilant against any threat to the peace of our nation: President Mukherjee
Read: Pathankot attack major challenge for PM Modi’s Pakistan gambit: Omar Abdullah
8:50 pm: Strongly condemn the terrorist attack on Air Force Base in Pathankot in Punjab: President Pranab Mukherjee
8:13 pm:
8:10 pm: My tributes to those martyred thwarting cowardly attack in Pathankot Air Base: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar
8:00 pm: I compliment security forces for swift and effective response: Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister
7:50 pm: I want to assure countrymen that our armed forces have strength to defeat evil intentions of our enemy: PM.
7:30 pm:
7:20 pm: Enemies of humanity who can’t see India progress, such elements attacked in Pathankot but our security forces did not let them succeed: PM
7:10 pm: Nation is proud of its brave security forces who have always rose to the occasion. I salute our forces on successful operation in P’kot: HM
7:00 pm: We have also lost security personnel in Pathankot attack. My heartfelt condolences to their families.We can never forget their sacrifice: HM
6:45 pm: I congratulate our armed forces and other security forces on successfully neutralising all the five terrorists: Rajnath Singh
6:00 pm: Fifth terrorist neutralized, combing operation continues.
5:45 pm: Pak number used to hire taxi by terrorists in Pathankot: reports
5:30 pm: Due to effective preparation and coordinated efforts by all security agencies terrorists were detected by aerial surveillance platforms: IAF
READ: Terror-related incidents in Punjab between 2001-2016
5:10 pm: Intelligence inputs had been available of a likely attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into the military installation in Pathankot area: IAF
5:00 pm: The likely plan of the terrorists to destroy valuable assets of the Air Force has been foiled. Currently the operation is going on: IAF
4:45 pm: It raises security concerns for Punjab as the state is witnessing a sudden surge in such activities after being peaceful for the last 20 years,” said Surjewala.
4:40 pm: The current module appears to have come from Pakistan in the same fashion. Secondly the terror camps that are run by terrorists for carrying on anti- India activity in POK continues to be supported by Pakistani establishments: AICC Communication department chief Randeep Surjewala told reporters here.
4:30 pm: Pakistan today condemned the terror strike at an Air Force base in Pathankot by heavily- armed Pakistani terrorists and asserted that building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts, it remained committed to partner India in tackling terrorism.
3:58 pm: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan: “Pakistan condemns the terrorist incident in Pathankot, India, today, in which many precious lives have been lost.
We extend heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of India and the bereaved families and wish the wounded speedy and full recovery.
Building on the goodwill created during the recent high level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India as well as other countries in the region to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region.”
3:40 pm: Defence Minister Parrikar is being briefed by the three Service Chiefs and NSA Doval.
3:35 pm:
3:30 pm:
3:15 pm: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who is rushing to Pathankot, said that the number of militants killed in the terror attack is “not known” yet.
“I don’t want to give any news that is not at all correct. I am in touch with them and I will also visit Pathankot at 4 PM today.”
“Due to the thrashing incident yesterday, there was a timely alert. Had it not been so, the damage could have been more,” Badal said.
SEE PICTURES: Terrorist attack at Pathankot IAF base days after Modi’s visit to Pakistan
3:00 pm: Pakistan condemns the terrorist attack in Pathankot, a statement reads. It adds that Pakistan remains committed to partner with India and other countries to eradicate the menace of terror.
2:10 pm: Strongly condemn terrorist attack in Pathankot. My deepest condolences to families of the brave soldiers martyred in attack: Congress VP Rahul Gandhi
1:10 pm: RJD chief Lalu Prasad says this is not the right time to question foreign policy. “I stand with our soldiers in this fight,” he added.
12:40 pm: Click here to see first pictures from the site.
12:30 pm: We are now getting reports of aerial firing by Air Force choppers at the site.
11:55 am: ANI is reporting that a Defense Service Corps jawan has succumbed to injuries, taking the death toll to 3 among the security forces.
11:45 am: The terror attack should be condemned outright, says Congress’s Ahmed Patel
11:30 am: “Punjab shares a long border with Pakistan. Terrorism trying to enter Punjab once again but BJP will deal with it strictly,” Punjab BJP chief Kamal Sharma
11:10 am: A team of NIA personnel have reached Pathankot: PTI
11:05 am: Press Trust of India says a second personnel of the IAF has been killed.
11:00 am: The terrorists are suspected to belong to Jaish-e-Mohammed, the terror outfit from Pakistan.
11:15 am: Sound of three grenade blasts heard inside airbase.
10:55 am: Sounds of firing from within the airbase again.
10:50 am: Pakistan is our neighbour and we want peace, but any attack on India will get a befitting response: Rajnath Singh tells ANI
10:40 am: Home Minister Rajnath Singh told ANI that he was happy the security forces gave a befitting response to terrorists in Punjab. “The country is proud of them,” he said.
10:25 am: We are now getting confirmation that at least one IAF personnel has been killed in the attack. Some others are injured as well.
10:15 am: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will hold a high-level meeting with officials.
9:25 am: Local police in the area have been telling people not to come out of their homes.
9:20 am: The SUV that was snatched from the police officer on Friday was found in a Himachal village 1 km away from the perimeter of the Air Force base.
9:10 am: 80 per cent of the Air Force base has been sanitised. One shot was fired from an administrative block at 7:45 am. Security forces are now believed to be closing into this block.
There are 12 entry points into the base.
9:00 am: We are getting reports that four terrorists have been killed in the attack.
8:20 am: Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah says the attack is the first major challenge to PM Modi’s Pakistan gambit.
“From past experience I’m sure it emerge that these militants crossed over within the last few hours with the airbase as a specific target,” he wrote in a tweet.
8:00 am: Meanwhile, officials at the highest levels have convened a meeting at the Air Force headquarters in New Delhi. The situation is being monitored, ANI reports.
7:50 am: Security has been tightened in Ludhiana and surrounding areas.
7:45 am: Surinder Singh, SHO, Sarabha Nagar tells news agency ANI that the entire state of Punjab is on high alert after the attack.
7:30 am: We are getting reports that NSG and Garud Commando Force are engaged with terrorists.
7:15 am: Early in July, the Army had sounded alerts about possible attacks in border areas following the attack in Gurdaspur. Read the story here.
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(With inputs from Kamaldeep Singh Brar, Man Aman Singh Chhina, Divya Goyal, Nirupama Subramanian)
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/live-terror-attack-at-pathankot-air-force-base-2-terrorist-killed/#sthash.xWKvU6qM.dpuf
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