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Gunmen Killed in Pathankot, India, Air Base Attack Gunmen Killed in Pathankot, India, Air Base Attack
(35 minutes later)
NEW DELHI — At least four gunmen were killed in an attack at an Indian Air Force base that began early Saturday morning near the border with Pakistan in Pathankot, Punjab, the police said.NEW DELHI — At least four gunmen were killed in an attack at an Indian Air Force base that began early Saturday morning near the border with Pakistan in Pathankot, Punjab, the police said.
Gunmen entered the air force base and exchanged fire with security forces inside around 3:30 a.m., said Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, a senior police official based in Amritsar. As of Saturday evening, a military operation against the remaining gunmen holed up in buildings on the base was still underway, according to a Ministry of Defense statement. Gunmen entered the air force base and exchanged fire with security forces inside around 3:30 a.m., said Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, a senior police official based in Amritsar. As of Saturday evening, a military operation against the remaining gunmen inside the base was still underway, according to a Ministry of Defense statement.
Mr. Singh did not confirm a report from the Press Trust of India news agency that three members of the security forces had also been killed, but Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in a Twitter message that security personnel had also died.Mr. Singh did not confirm a report from the Press Trust of India news agency that three members of the security forces had also been killed, but Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in a Twitter message that security personnel had also died.
There had been intelligence reports of a likely attack in the Pathankot area, and the attackers were seen on aerial surveillance when they entered the base, the defense ministry statement said. It was unclear who was behind the assault. But there had been intelligence reports of a likely attack in the Pathankot area, and the attackers were seen on aerial surveillance when they entered the base, the Defense Ministry statement said.
The attack came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India made an impromptu trip to Pakistan to meet the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Dec. 25, the first such visit in almost 12 years. The meeting was seen as a step toward the resumption of a stalled dialogue over economic and security issues.The attack came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India made an impromptu trip to Pakistan to meet the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Dec. 25, the first such visit in almost 12 years. The meeting was seen as a step toward the resumption of a stalled dialogue over economic and security issues.
Terrorist attacks on security forces and military bases are unusual in Punjab, and more often seen in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which shares a border with Punjab and has a persistent insurgency. India has long accused Pakistan of supporting militants in the region. Pathankot lies on a highway connecting Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India.Terrorist attacks on security forces and military bases are unusual in Punjab, and more often seen in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which shares a border with Punjab and has a persistent insurgency. India has long accused Pakistan of supporting militants in the region. Pathankot lies on a highway connecting Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India.
Rajnath Singh said Saturday that India wanted peace with Pakistan, but said that “if there is any terror attack on India, we will give a befitting reply.”Rajnath Singh said Saturday that India wanted peace with Pakistan, but said that “if there is any terror attack on India, we will give a befitting reply.”
In July, gunmen wearing Indian Army uniforms opened fire on a civilian bus and then took over a police station in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab, also near the border with Pakistan.In July, gunmen wearing Indian Army uniforms opened fire on a civilian bus and then took over a police station in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab, also near the border with Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the air base attack in a statement on Saturday. “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,” the ministry said.Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the air base attack in a statement on Saturday. “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,” the ministry said.