Indian parliamentary panel slams gov't for terror attack on Pathankot air base

A parliamentary panel on Tuesday came down heavily on the Indian government for failing to avert the terror attack on Pathankot air base in the northern state of Punjab in January this year.

In fact, the Standing Committee of the Home Ministry said there is "something seriously wrong with our counter-terror security establishment" and questioned how terrorists managed to breach a high security air base and could launch an attack despite an advance alert.

"The committee is unable to understand how terrorists managed to reach the Pathankot air base in spite of terror alerts being sounded well in advance. The security agencies were ill-prepared to anticipate the threats in time and counter them swiftly," the committee said.

It added "There is something seriously wrong with our counter-terror security establishment. The terrorists were able to sneak in despite fencing, floodlights and patrolling by BSF personnel."

The committee has urged the Indian government to take the report seriously and take appropriate steps. "Even today, there are very unsafe conditions at the Pathankot airbase," Pradip Bhattacharya, the chairman of the Standing Committee, said.

On Jan. 2, six terrorists sneaked into the high security strategic air base after crossing over to this country from Pakistan and opened fire. The operation to neutralise them lasted three days in which the four terrorists and three Indian military personnel were killed. Endit