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Pathankot: Battle for Indian airbase enters third day 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.
It comes at the same time as gunmen tried to attack the Indian consulate in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif. Heavy fighting is continuing around the building.
No groups have said they carried out either attack.
Nitin Srivastava, BBC Hindi, PathankotNitin Srivastava, BBC Hindi, Pathankot
All roads leading to the air force base have been closed.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.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.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. Most people are blaming the porous India-Pakistan border in Punjab.
Many also said they were embarrassed that the base was yet to be secured.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.
Too many cooks? Soutik Biswas, BBC News
The operation by Indian security forces to take out the militants who attacked the base at Pathankot has been mired in controversy. Since Saturday there have been conflicting accounts about whether the gunmen - at least five of them are said to have died so far - were still active on the base.
Questions have been raised about how Home Minister Rajnath Singh declared on Saturday evening that the militants had been neutralised. Mr Singh later deleted his tweet.
Mr Singh insists that the "attack could have been much worse" if the government hadn't had advance intelligence.
At the same time, a senior official of the home ministry told reporters on Sunday that he was not sure whether there were more than two more terrorists holed up in the base.
There are a still a number of unanswered questions about the attack and the security of the base, which is on great strategic significance.
In the end, India's response to the attack appears to have been marred by the familiar malaise of multiple security agencies and a lack of co-ordination between them. As an official told a newspaper: "Too many cooks spoil the broth."
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.