Pathankote Attack a replica of 26/11

NEW DELHI: Pattern of the Pathankot attack is almost similar as that of 26/11, said Brigadier (Rtd) Govind Singh Sisodia, the former DIG who led the NSG operation during the Mumbai attacks. Six militants who attacked the Pathankot Air Force base were killed while security forces lost seven of its men.

“The  militants came in two groups – one went into action to attack the targets or inflict casualties while other took to hiding. Almost similar tactics were adopted by two  militants groups that was involved in the Akhnoor attack. One kept silent as first went into the action. Later the second group came out and attacked an officer. I wonder how the security agencies and army failed to visualise the pattern of two earlier of a similar kind – Mumbai and Akhnoor attacks. They also did not take pro-active protection measures at Pathankot airforce base station,” he said.

Speaking to The Indian Express over phone from Mumbai, the Brigadier said that unlike Mumbai attack, the security forces and army had an advantage since there was prior inputs. “Yet this advantage was not encashed. This is a very sad part of the whole tragedy.”

The former DIG agreed that there was a lack of coordination and no lessons have been learnt from previous attacks planned and executed from Pakistan. Brigadier Sisodia recalled that the agencies involved in the operation had another advantage unlike Mumbai attack. “They had used the cell phone only once before the attack at the Air Force base station. During Mumbai attack they were being guided by their handlers in Pakistan thus it took a lot of time to pin them down or neutralise the terrorists.”

Could the attack been averted? The Brigadier said, “Yes, because there were specific inputs. Additional trained manpower of the army could have been immediately deployed creating a multi-layered protection (perimeter) wall and deploying more men. .”

The former DIG, who hails from Chopal area of Himachal Pradesh, said that the jawans and officers who made their supreme sacrifice for the nation have done a heroic job. “My heart goes out for them as they gave a befitting reply to the terrorists and killed them before attaining martyrdom,” he said.

NIA to seek Pakistan help 

The NIA will seek help of Pakistan in solving the Pathankot terror attack case once the identity of people contacted by the perpetrators has been established, the anti-terror probe agency’s chief Sharad Kumar said on Tuesday.

Kumar, who will be flying on Wednesday to the Pathankot Indian Air Force base for an on-the-spot assessment, said solving the conspiracy behind the attack is a “very big challenge” but recalled how the agency had in the past established the identity of culprits in many blind cases.

“It’s a very challenging case and a lot of investigation needs to be done. Therefore, I am not fixing any deadline to the case but we will try to complete the probe soon,” Kumar said.

Asked about the nationality of the terrorists involved in Pathankot attack, Kumar said there was little doubt that the accused were from Pakistan and added “whatever evidence that is available in front of us till now is based on intercepted telephone calls between the terrorists and their handlers and family members across the border”.

He, however, refrained from naming the terror group responsible for the attack, saying “Let us work first. We will be able to establish everything once we have some evidence to support our claims. The case has to be proved before the court of law and therefore I will refrain from making statements on speculation.”

The militants were believed to owe allegiance to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Kumar said the probe was at an initial stage and refused to confirm if Pakistan’s external spy agency ISI had a role to play in the incident. “I can’t say whether ISI is involved or not. Let us see what happens after our probe is completed,” he said.

NIA had on Monday registered three cases in connection with the brazen terror strike, including the murder of a taxi driver by suspected militants, kidnapping of a Superintendent of Police rank officer and attack on the IAF base on the intervening night of January one and two.

The NIA Chief also said the agency would try to identify the slain militants and may seek Pakistan’s help in getting the voice samples of those from across the border whose voices figured in intercepted conversations.

“We will ask them (Pakistan) to give us the voice samples once we identify these people,” he said.

The terrorists had made several calls from the local mobile phone of a jeweller Rajesh Verma to places in Pakistan including Bahawalpur where they spoke to their handlers as well as family members, official sources said.

The NIA chief said Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) team was already assisting the 20-member agency team that is camping in Pathankot after the news of terror strike broke in the morning of January two.

“We will also collect the DNA samples from all the dead bodies of the terrorists which may come in handy in future,” he said.

Indian Defence Minister admits ‘gaps’

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday admitted to “some gaps” that led to the terror attack on the Air Force base here.

Addressing a news conference after a visit to the forward base, he said all the six terrorists were neutralized in an operation that lasted for more than 36 hours since 3.30am on Saturday.

When asked by reporters if there was any major security lapse that led to the terror attack, Parrikar said “I see some gaps. But I do not think there is any compromise on security”.

Once the investigations are over, things will become clear, he said, adding every security detail cannot be discussed and keep something for investigation.

While praising the security forces for their action against the militants, Parrikar said that he was worried as to how the terrorists had managed to come inside the base which has a perimeter of 24 kms and located in an area of about 2,000 acres.

Asked about the Pakistani connection, he said there are indications that some of the equipment used by terrorists are made in Pakistan.

He said the terrorists were carrying 40-50 kgs of bullets, mortars, which were fired from modified Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher besides some magazines.

Parrikar said except the Garud commando, no one else was killed in direct operation.

“Five Defence Securiuty Corps personnel died because more of a bad luck. One of them Jagdish Chandra virtually grappled with the terrorist before killing him,” he said. “There is no suspected terrorist inside right now. (still) I will not give a negative report till the combing operations are over. The combing operations may be over by tomorrow,” he said in reply to questions.

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