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Indian troops battling militants at key air force base Indian troops battling militants at key air force base
(about 1 hour later)
NEW DELHI — Indian troops fought militants at a northern air force base for a second day on Sunday, even as criticism mounted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan last week has yielded few positive results.NEW DELHI — Indian troops fought militants at a northern air force base for a second day on Sunday, even as criticism mounted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan last week has yielded few positive results.
The deadly gun battle began early Saturday after armed men scaled the compound wall and entered the base, which is near the border with Pakistan. But after the operation was declared successful and complete after nearly 14 hours of fighting, troops found that two more militants were hiding inside the sprawling Pathankot base around noon on Sunday. The deadly gun battle began early Saturday after armed men scaled the compound wall and entered the Pathankot base, which is near the border with Pakistan. But after the operation was declared successful and complete after nearly 14 hours of fighting, troops found, about noon Sunday, that two more militants were hiding inside the sprawling base.
At least seven troops and four militants have been killed in the fighting.At least seven troops and four militants have been killed in the fighting.
As explosions were heard from inside the air base late Sunday, some reports said the two remaining militants have been killed. Officials, however, did not confirm the reports. As explosions were heard from inside the base late Sunday, some reports said the two remaining militants have been killed. Officials did not confirm the reports, though.
“The operations are at a mature stage, but the confirmation will only be made when we physically see the body of the terrorists,” said Anil Khosla, the air force’s director general of air operations.“The operations are at a mature stage, but the confirmation will only be made when we physically see the body of the terrorists,” said Anil Khosla, the air force’s director general of air operations.
The attack comes a week after Modi met with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during an unannounced stopover in Lahore on his way back from Kabul. Many analysts termed the meeting — the first visit by an Indian prime minister in 12 years — a “masterstroke” aimed at improving the frayed ties between the two nations.The attack comes a week after Modi met with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during an unannounced stopover in Lahore on his way back from Kabul. Many analysts termed the meeting — the first visit by an Indian prime minister in 12 years — a “masterstroke” aimed at improving the frayed ties between the two nations.
But now critics are questioning why Modi’s diplomatic gesture has not borne fruit on the ground. [India’s premier creates a stir with surprise stop in Pakistan]
On Saturday and Sunday, many Indians reproduced old tweets of Modi in which he questioned the policy of conducting dialogue with Pakistan amid terrorist attacks. But now critics are questioning why Modi’s diplomatic gesture has not borne fruit.
On Saturday and Sunday, many Indians reproduced old tweets from Modi in which he questioned the policy of conducting dialogue with Pakistan amid terrorist attacks.
Randeep Singh Surjewala, a spokesman for the opposition Congress party, said he wants to remind Indians that Modi “used to say he will show red eyes to Pakistan.”Randeep Singh Surjewala, a spokesman for the opposition Congress party, said he wants to remind Indians that Modi “used to say he will show red eyes to Pakistan.”
“We don’t want him to show red eyes, but we want him to take firm action to protect the life of citizens of this country,” Surjewala said.“We don’t want him to show red eyes, but we want him to take firm action to protect the life of citizens of this country,” Surjewala said.
[Old chasm between India and Pakistan again echoes with warnings and fears][Old chasm between India and Pakistan again echoes with warnings and fears]
Since independence from British rule in 1947, the two nations have fought three wars. India routinely accuses Islamist groups in Pakistan of fomenting terror across the border . But no official has directly blamed Pakistan for the Saturday attack. In a tweet on Saturday, Modi blamed the “enemies of humanity who can’t see India progress.” Since independence from British rule in 1947, the two nations have fought three wars. India routinely accuses Islamist groups in Pakistan of fomenting terror across the border. But no official has directly blamed Pakistan for the Saturday attack. In a tweet Saturday, Modi blamed the “enemies of humanity who can’t see India ­progress.”
Pakistan’s government condemned the attack and said it was committed to partnering with India to eradicate terrorism.Pakistan’s government condemned the attack and said it was committed to partnering with India to eradicate terrorism.
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday met with a group of former diplomats to formulate the government’s strategy of engagement with Pakistan in the coming weeks. India’s foreign minister, Sushma Swaraj, met on Sunday with a group of former diplomats to formulate the government’s strategy of engagement with Pakistan in the coming weeks.
A senior minister in the government, Prakash Javadekar, said the process of talks with Pakistan “cannot be destroyed” because of one attack.A senior minister in the government, Prakash Javadekar, said the process of talks with Pakistan “cannot be destroyed” because of one attack.
After an intelligence alert about an imminent terror threat to the base, New Delhi sent commandos to Pathankot on Friday. Aerial surveillance detected the militants entering the compound, and the fighting began.After an intelligence alert about an imminent terror threat to the base, New Delhi sent commandos to Pathankot on Friday. Aerial surveillance detected the militants entering the compound, and the fighting began.
“Because of early action, the terrorists were unable to move to their likely intended aim but were contained in an area of growth of trees and shrubs,” Rajiv Mehrishi, a Home Ministry official, told reporters in New Delhi. He added that the militants wanted to cause “damage to the assets of the air force.” “Because of early action, the terrorists were unable to move to their likely intended aim but were contained in an area of a growth of trees and shrubs,” Rajiv Mehrishi, a Home Ministry official, told reporters in New Delhi. He added that the militants wanted to cause “damage to the assets of the air force.”
Hours after the gun battle resumed on Sunday, Modi drew much criticism on social media when his Twitter handle posted tweets about the benefits of yoga and traditional Indian medicine, quoting from his speech at a conference in the southern state of Karnataka. Hours after the gun battle resumed Sunday, Modi drew much criticism on social media when his Twitter handle posted tweets about the benefits of yoga and traditional Indian medicine, quoting from his speech at a conference in the southern state of Karnataka.
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