IAF confirms thwarting of terror design in Pathankot

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday said it thwarted terrorists' likely plan to destroy valuable assets at the Pathankot IAF station.

"Due to the effective preparation and coordinated efforts by the security agencies, the group of terrorists was detected by the aerial surveillance platforms as soon as they entered the Pathankot IAF Station," said an IAF statement.

The statement further said, "The infiltrators were immediately engaged and contained within a limited area, preventing them from entering the technical zone, where high value assets are parked. Through timely and prompt action by all agencies, the likely plan of the terrorists to destroy valuable assets of the IAF has been foiled."

The operation was going on by the time this report was filed.

The Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command is on location, and supervising and coordinating with the army, National Security Guard (NSG) and the Punjab Police for exchange of information and operational activity, it stated.

In the operation that started in the morning at 3.30 a.m., four terrorists and three security personnel were killed, while six other injured have been admitted to a hospital.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar held a high-level meeting with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and the three service chiefs at South Block here on Saturday.

According to reports, Parrikar was briefed by the NSA and the three service chiefs on the overall security scenario.