Pathankot terror attack: Six terrorists killed, combing operations still on, says NSG

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New Delhi, Jan 4, 2016: Security forces on Monday nailed two more terrorists who had attacked the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot along with four others, senior National Security Guard (NSG) official said.

Seven security personnel, including one officer of the National Security Guard, were killed in the counter-offensive against the terrorists, as a final combing operation was in progress till evening.

“Pathankot operations are still going on. The 6th terrorist has been killed at IAF base,” said the NSG official while briefing the media.

“All assets - personal and families - are safe at Pathankot IAF base,” he added.

The NSG official further said, “ Operations will be conducted till we can fully render the airbase safe.”

Four terrorists were killed on Saturday in a 15-hour gunfight in which the NSG, Indian Army and IAF commandos were involved, assisted by IAF attack helicopters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier today, chaired a high-level meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar in the wake of the terror attack at the Indian Air Force base near Pathankot in Punjab.

The terror attack came almost a week after Modi flew into Lahore, on his way back from Afghanistan, for a surprise meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. Both leaders had vowed to pursue the derailed bilateral peace process.

Foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan are expected to meet on January 15 to draw up a roadmap for bilateral engagement.

The Modi government has faced sharp criticism from Congress and some other parties over its policy on Pakistan. The opposition parties have said the Modi government`s policy on Pakistan "lacks clarity and consistency".