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Gunfire and blast as India 'hunts Pathankot base attackers' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Fresh gunfire and a blast have been heard at an Indian air force base at Pathankot near the Pakistani border, as troops reportedly battle the remnants of a group that attacked the site. | |
At least four attackers and seven Indian soldiers have died so far. | At least four attackers and seven Indian soldiers have died so far. |
An Indian official said two gunmen were still at large, contradicting reports that the base was secured on Saturday. | |
The attack is being seen as a blow to an apparent peace initiative launched just over a week ago. | The attack is being seen as a blow to an apparent peace initiative launched just over a week ago. |
Hopes for a thaw in relations were raised after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an unexpected visit to his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. | |
Pakistan's foreign ministry and the US State Department have condemned the attack. | Pakistan's foreign ministry and the US State Department have condemned the attack. |
The attack started before dawn on Saturday, when a group of gunmen - wearing Indian army uniforms - entered the residential quarters on the base. | The attack started before dawn on Saturday, when a group of gunmen - wearing Indian army uniforms - entered the residential quarters on the base. |
Hours of heavy gunfire followed, and a helicopter was seen firing at the facility. On Saturday afternoon, police said the base had been secured. | Hours of heavy gunfire followed, and a helicopter was seen firing at the facility. On Saturday afternoon, police said the base had been secured. |
However, fresh gunfire was reported on Sunday morning. | |
A senior government official, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, troops were battling at least two gunmen who had been cornered at the site. | |
At least one explosion - suspected to have been caused by a grenade - was heard on Sunday. Local news reports said a soldier from a commando unit had been killed while defusing explosives. | At least one explosion - suspected to have been caused by a grenade - was heard on Sunday. Local news reports said a soldier from a commando unit had been killed while defusing explosives. |
The identity of the attackers is not clear. Some Indian security officials suggested the Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed was to blame. | The identity of the attackers is not clear. 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. The three attackers in Gurdaspur were killed after a 12-hour standoff with police. | 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. |
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. |