Guns silent as Indian forces search Indian air force base

During the telephonic conversation, Modi strongly pressed for urgent steps against those responsible for the attack that began on Saturday last with six terrorists sneaking into the Air Base and leading to an encounter in which seven securitymen, including a Lt Colonel, were killed. The policeman was freed the next day, and warned security forces that a team of heavily armed militants was in the region.

Responding to another question, Earnest said it is in the interest of Pakistan to take actions against terror groups.

The attack sparked what CNN’s partner in India, CNN-IBN, described as a 15-hour gunfight at the base, which the network said houses fighter jets and attack helicopters.

“Security at every defence establishment will be evaluated”, the official said.

Military funerals were held Monday for the soldiers who were killed in the attack.

“The biggest problem is the multiplicity of command and control”.

Asked about the nationality of the terrorists involved in Pathankot attack, Kumar said there is “little doubt” that the attackers were from Pakistan, adding “whatever evidence that is available in front of us till now is based on intercepted telephone calls between the terrorists and their handlers and family members across the border”. “It’s a major goof-up for everybody”. They allegedly leaked information about the Army base in Gwalior, Air Force stations in Bathinda and Jaisalmer in return for jobs or money.

The NIA registered the case under various sections of Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Arms Act against unknown persons, official sources said.

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh had previously announced on Twitter that all the attackers were dead. It is also very close to India’s border with Pakistan. “If Pakistan wants to improve relations with India, they should immediately hand over Jaish-e-Mohammed’s Maulana Masood Azhar to India”, it said. Rebels in India’s portion of Kashmir have been fighting since 1989 for independence or merger with Pakistan.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy and said the Pathankot attack had shown his “birthday diplomacy” was a “failure”.

What is new about these two attacks is the pace and intensity with which the attacks have been carried out following the PM Modi’s visit. The foreign secretaries of both nations are to meet in Islamabad later this month.

All political parties in India have condemned the attack, but there were no demands that the government call off the talks with Pakistan.

In fact, this unconventional move by PM Modi was termed as “innovative diplomacy”, being suggested as a more successful and closer form of engagement with Pakistan.