PM Modi visits Pathankot air base

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited the strategic Pathankot Air Force base for a first-hand assessment of the situation in the aftermath of the terror attack last Saturday.

Security forces had yesterday declared the sprawling Air Force station fully sanitised after a massive combing operation spanning over three days.

"The combing operation at the Air Force station is over," a senior IAF official said, adding the entire area has been sanitised.

Six terrorists, believed to owe allegiance to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed were gunned down by the security forces after a four-day gun battle. Seven Indian security personnel also lost their lives.

The operation to ensure that no terrorist was hiding was carried out jointly by Army, NSG and IAF's Garud commandos.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had also visited the base on January 5.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had called up Modi and promised action against the perpetrators of the brazen attack.
During his visit, the Prime Minister is also likely to undertake an aerial survey of the Indo-Pak border areas, official sources said.

Elaborate security arrangements are in place in Pathankot for Modi's visit and media has been stationed near the entrance of the air base.

During his visit to the strategic facility on January 5, Parrikar had admitted to "some gaps" that led to the attack.

The perpetrators were believed to have infiltrated the Indian territory from a spot near Bamiyal village in Pathankot located close to the international border.