ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: India faced another terrorist attack on Saturday morning when a group of terrorists wearing army uniforms stormed the Indian Air Force (IAF) Base in Pathankot, the latest attach which Indian security officials allege was backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The Indian media reports said that seven terrorists attacked the IAF base located in the Indian state of Punjab near the Pakistan border on Saturday morning.
In the subsequent exchange of fire between the terrorists and Indian security personnel, four terrorists were killed but four security personnel also lost their live in the crossfire.
It is believed that three terrorists were still inside compound of airbase, and they also hurled grenades at a neighbourhood gurdwara.
The crossfire between the two sides were still continuing when the report was filed. The Indian forces also have the support of helicopters.
Meanwhile, the Indian media citing security officials reported that the terrorists were speaking Punjab with each other and they hailed from Pakistan-based Jaish-i-Muhammad group. It is being alleged that the terrorists were supported and financed by the ISI, Pakistani premier intelligence agency.
The Indian media further claimed that the attackers had arrived from Pakistani Punjab’s Bahawalpur district, another revelation made by Indian officials even when the operation against terrorists still continues in IAF base.
However, sources on condition of anonymity told media that the style of attackers had the resemblance of what occurred on March 4, 2009 in Lahore where Sri Lankan Cricket Team came under attack. The sources further allege that IAF base attackers seem to have been trained by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) within India as the outlawed terror outfit does so to carry out terror-related activities in Pakistan.
The latest terror attack in Indian Punjab may sabotage the recently-agreed peace talk process between Pakistan and India, and it can trigger another series of exchange of allegations from both the nations.
Last month, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited Lahore for a brief visit, a couple of days after the two countries decided to revive the stalled bilateral comprehensive dialogue process.
The foreign secretaries-level talks between Pakistan and India are likely in this regard in mid-January.
