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Pathankot: Battle for Indian airbase enters third day | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The gun battle between Indian troops and militants at an air force base in Pathankot near the Pakistani border has entered its third day. | The gun battle between Indian troops and militants at an air force base in Pathankot near the Pakistani border has entered its third day. |
Indian TV stations reported that a loud explosion was heard at the base on Monday morning. | Indian TV stations reported that a loud explosion was heard at the base on Monday morning. |
At least five attackers and seven Indian soldiers have died so far. It is unclear how many militants are still inside the base. | At least five attackers and seven Indian soldiers have died so far. It is unclear how many militants are still inside the base. |
Indian PM Narendra Modi held a meeting on Sunday to review the situation. | Indian PM Narendra Modi held a meeting on Sunday to review the situation. |
The attack is being seen as a blow to an apparent Indo-Pakistani peace initiative launched just days ago. | The attack is being seen as a blow to an apparent Indo-Pakistani peace initiative launched just days ago. |
Hopes for a thaw in relations were raised after Mr Modi paid an unexpected visit to his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. | Hopes for a thaw in relations were raised after Mr 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. |
Nitin Srivastava, BBC Hindi, Pathankot | |
All roads leading to the air force base have been closed. | |
Combing operations are continuing inside the sprawling, but heavily fortified, base to locate at least two more gunmen who are believed to be inside the complex. | |
Shops in Pathankot have opened today after two days but residents are yet to come out of the shock of a heavily guarded base coming under attack. | |
Most people are blaming the porous India-Pakistan border in Punjab to be the reason behind the increased number of attacks. | |
Many also said they were embarrassed that the base was yet to be secured. | |
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 Sunday. | Hours of heavy gunfire followed, and a helicopter was seen firing at the facility on Sunday. |
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. |