Pathankot airbase on high alert

NEW DELHI, March 14: The Pathankot airbase, which witnessed a terror attack on 2 January, 2016, has been put on high alert. According to initial reports, the search operations are underway and the concerned authorities are monitoring the situation. So far no official comment has come from the Pathankot police.  The 2016 Pathankot attack was a terrorist attack committed on 2 January 2016 by a heavily armed group which attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station, part of the Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force, in Punjab.
Four terrorists were killed when they carried out a suicide attack on the strategic Indian Air Force base in Pathankot during the intervening night of January 1-2. Seven security personnel were also killed during the 80-hour-long gun battle.
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar and three others were declared ‘Proclaimed Offenders’ in the Pathankot airbase attack case by a special court in Mohali town of Punjab. Besides Pakistan-based terror organisation JeM’s chief Azhar, those declared ‘Proclaimed Offenders’ by the tiol Investigation Agency (NIA) court were his brother Mufti Rauf Asghar, and associates Shahid Latif and Kashif Jan.
The special NIA court was hearing the case since last year. The NIA had also issued a Red Corner notice against the terrorists wanted to stand trial for the airbase attack. In recent months, Chi has blocked attempts by India to get Azhar declared an intertiol terrorist by the United tions.
Meanwhile, the United States approached the United tions with a resolution to ban Pak-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Chief Masood Azhar. The move is backed by the UK, France and India. However, Chi has reportedly put a hold on the resolution. Speaking on the future of Indo-Pak talks, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar had also said that talks with Pakistan will take place with terror as the key issue.  “As far as Pakistan is concerned, it is our neighbour. Talks will take place keeping terror as the key issue,” Javadekar had said.
Few months later after the Pathankot attack, Prime Minister rendra Modi had praised the security forces for foiling a major terrorist attack at an Indian Air Force (IAF) base near Pathankot in Punjab. “Proud of our Jawans and security forces. Enemies of humanity who can’t see India progress, such elements attacked in Pathankot but our security forces did not let them succeed,” Modi added.  IANS