PM Narendra Modi Visits Pathankot Air Base

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited the air force base in Punjab's Pathankot district that was attacked by six terrorists from Pakistan on January 2. Seven security personnel were martyred and another 20 were Soon after the PM arrived at the air base, he was briefed by Air Commodore J S Dhamoon and senior officials from the National Security Guard and the National Investigation Agency on how the attack unfolded. "Noted with satisfaction the decision-making and its execution, the considerations that went into our tactical response," said PM Modi after the briefing. "Lauded bravery of our men and women on ground. They are our pride," he added. Yesterday, security forces declared that the air force station in Pathankot, where India keeps fighter jets and attack helicopters, was fully sanitized. The combing operation began after the six Pakistani terrorists, believed to be from the Jaish-e-Mohammed, were neutralised in a four-day gunfight. The attack in Pathankot came just a week after the PM made an unscheduled visit to Pakistan and met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He has conveyed to Mr Sharif that India wants to see urgent action taken against those who conceived and executed the attack. The evidence furnished by India includes intercepts of phone calls made by the six terrorists to their handlers in Pakistan. Ammunition and other equipment recovered from them after they were killed were made in Pakistan. At a second high-level meeting on Friday, Mr Sharif reiterated his country's commitment to cooperate with India on investigating the attack. After a meeting on Thursday, he had ordered an investigation into the evidence provided by India, a media report said. India has indicated to Pakistan that crucial talks between the Foreign Secretaries of both countries are unlikely to go ahead next week unless Pakistan delivers "prompt and decisive action" on the evidence it has given.   NDTV