The Pathankot airbase close to the border in Punjab, which was attacked by suspected Pakistani militants in January, did not have a robust security cover, a parliamentary committee has said. The strategic facility that houses MiG-21 fighter planes and Mi-25 attack helicopters of the air force had a poorly guarded perimeter wall, the cross-party panel of MPs said in its report. The panel also observed that there was something seriously wrong with the country’s counter-terror security establishment.
Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya, chairperson of the panel, said security agencies were “ill-prepared to anticipate the threats in time and counter them swiftly”. “The committee is unable to understand how terrorists managed to reach the Pathankot airbase in spite of terror alerts being sounded well in advance.” Seven Indian security men were killed in an 80-hour gunfight after militants believed to be from the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) infiltrated the facility early January.
“We urge upon the Government of India to take this report seriously and take appropriate steps. Even today, there are very unsafe conditions at the Pathankot airbase,” Bhattacharya was quoted as saying. Recently, a five-member team from Pakistan visited Pathankot to probe the attack. In reciprocity, India wants to send a team to the neighbouring country for investigation.
