Pakistan's hand in Pathankot attack probed

Admitting two terrorists had been holed up at the base since Saturday when the attacks started, Air Force authorities added that they hope to wrap up the operation by Sunday evening. Four terrorists were killed yesterday after a day-long gun-battle. The Home Secretary said the main aim of the terrorists stands defeated. The remaining two terrorists are likely to be neutralised by this evening, the Home Secretary said in a media briefing. Confirming the casualties on security forces’ side, he said the IAF has lost six personnel while NSG lost one commando during early morning search operation while 12 of its personnel were injured. 

As security forces battled terrorists in Pathankot, Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said terror strikes would have been more severe if there were no intel

ligence reports. “If not for intelligence reports, the attacks would have been more severe,” he told reporters. The attack, believed to be carried out by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed that seeks independence for Kashmir, happened a week after PM Narendra Modi’s “spontaneous” visit to Pakistan. Opposition Congress has said India should reassess its position on the neighboring country. 

Former CM of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah called the attack “the first major challenge to PM Modi’s bold Pakistan gambit.” 

Security was increased in popular market places, in south Delhi, central Delhi and the VIP movement zone in Lutyens’ Delhi. Sleuths of Crime Branch and special cell of Delhi Police were also roped in, and the security unit has been asked to form a strategy in connection with potential threats to VIPs in the national capital. Earlier in the day, movement of several trains disrupted after Northern Railways was alerted about a possible bomb threat to trains plying between Delhi and Kanpur.