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Pathankot: Gunmen attack India air force base near Pakistan border | Pathankot: Gunmen attack India air force base near Pakistan border |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Five attackers and three members of the security forces been killed in an attack on an Indian air force base near the Pakistani border, officials say. | |
Security personnel secured Pathankot base on Saturday evening, after a battle lasting more than 14 hours. | |
The heavily-armed gunmen entered the base dressed in Indian army uniforms. | The heavily-armed gunmen entered the base dressed in Indian army uniforms. |
The attack came days after the Indian and Pakistani leaders, Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif, met in Lahore to launch a surprise peace initiative. | The attack came days after the Indian and Pakistani leaders, Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif, met in Lahore to launch a surprise peace initiative. |
No group has said it carried out the attack, which is being seen as an attempt to undermine those efforts. | No group has said it carried out the attack, which is being seen as an attempt to undermine those efforts. |
All of India's Punjab state has been placed on alert. Soldiers are combing the area around the base looking for more militants. | All of India's Punjab state has been placed on alert. Soldiers are combing the area around the base looking for more militants. |
"We want peace but if terrorists carry out attacks on Indian soil we will give them a befitting reply," said Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh. | "We want peace but if terrorists carry out attacks on Indian soil we will give them a befitting reply," said Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh. |
Pakistan condemned the attack and called it a "terrorist incident", adding that it remained committed to peace efforts with India. | Pakistan condemned the attack and called it a "terrorist incident", adding that it remained committed to peace efforts with India. |
Militant allegation | Militant allegation |
The gunmen drove a hijacked police vehicle when they launched the attack at 03:30 (22:00 GMT Friday). | The gunmen drove a hijacked police vehicle when they launched the attack at 03:30 (22:00 GMT Friday). |
They entered living quarters at the base, but were contained there and so were unable to cause any damage to military hardware, said air force spokeswoman Rochelle D'Silva. | They entered living quarters at the base, but were contained there and so were unable to cause any damage to military hardware, said air force spokeswoman Rochelle D'Silva. |
Later on Saturday morning, fresh gunfire was heard and a helicopter seen firing at an area inside the base. | Later on Saturday morning, fresh gunfire was heard and a helicopter seen firing at an area inside the base. |
But by the end of the afternoon, police confirmed the base was secure. | But by the end of the afternoon, police confirmed the base was secure. |
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says it is not yet clear who the attackers were - but suspicion is already falling on Kashmiri militant groups based in Pakistan. | The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says it is not yet clear who the attackers were - but suspicion is already falling on Kashmiri militant groups based in Pakistan. |
Some Indian security officials suggested the Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed was to blame. | Some Indian security officials suggested the Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed was to blame. |
India says the group is backed by Pakistan, but Islamabad denies this. | India says the group is backed by Pakistan, but Islamabad denies this. |
In July seven people were killed in a similar attack when gunmen stormed a police station in nearby Gurdaspur district. | In July seven people were killed in a similar attack when gunmen stormed a police station in nearby Gurdaspur district. |
The three attackers in Gurdaspur were killed after a 12-hour standoff with police. | The three attackers in Gurdaspur were killed after a 12-hour standoff with police. |
Pathankot air force base is about 430km (270 miles) north of the Indian capital, Delhi and is on the road linking Indian-administered Kashmir with the rest of the country. | Pathankot air force base is about 430km (270 miles) north of the Indian capital, Delhi and is on the road linking Indian-administered Kashmir with the rest of the country. |
Indian-administered Kashmir has seen a long-running insurgency against rule from Delhi, and Kashmir has been a flashpoint in relations between Pakistan and India for nearly 70 years since independence. | Indian-administered Kashmir has seen a long-running insurgency against rule from Delhi, and Kashmir has been a flashpoint in relations between Pakistan and India for nearly 70 years since independence. |