A week after the terror attack on the country's strategicPathankot Air Force base, Prime Minister Narendra Modivisited it for a first-hand assessment of the situation today. Taking to Twitter, later PM Modi said, "Noted with satisfaction the decision-making & its execution, the considerations that went into our tactical response". The PM's visit comes in the wake of widespread criticism by the Opposition of the government's 'failure' in handling the assault. PM Modi also undertook an aerial survey of the areas along the Indo - Pak border. During his visit, the PM reportedly met family members of security personnel who were killed in the terror strike.
PM Modi spent nearly 90 minutes at the airbase taking stock of the security measures that had been put in place since the attack; Air Force chief Air Marshal Arup Raha and National Security Guard officials briefed the Prime Minister about the attack and the counteroffensive launched against the perpetrators with the help of maps, aerial pictures and operational photographs. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Army chief Dalbir Singh and chiefs of NSG and BSF were also present during the visit. PM was reportedly shown the huge cache of weapons and ammunition recovered from the six terrorists. Officials of the NIA, which has taken over the probe into the attack, also briefed the Prime Minister on the progress of the investigation.
Modi tweeted, "Was briefed in detail about by the senior leadership of the Army, Air Force, NSG and Border Security Force". In an apparent rebuttal to critics, PM @narendramodi stated, "Was briefed in great detail on how our forces neutralised such a serious terrorist attack. Noted with satisfaction the decision-making & its execution, the considerations that went into our tactical response. Also noted coordination among various field units. Lauded bravery & determination of our men & women on the ground. They are our pride."
Opposition Congress which has been at the forefront of the attack on the government's hamhanded handling of the Pathankot terror assault which dragged on for four days leading to the loss of seven personnel of Indian security forces, retorted back on Twitter, "PM Modi diverted plane to Pakistan to greet Pak PM Nawaz Sharif on his b'day, but took 8 days to reach Pathankot!" Congress had earlier hit out at the PM's description of the "dastardly attack" as an "attack on humanity." The party questioned why despite overwhelming evidence the PM did not state that the terrorists that carried out the attack were from Pakistan. What assurances has the PM got from Nawaz Sharif, he must make them public, has been the demand of Opposition parties.
Incidentally, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had also visited the base on January 5 and admitted to "some gaps" in security preparedness that led to the attack.
Meanwhile, despite the uncertainty looming over the resumption of bilateral talks, Pakistani Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz yesterday said Pakistan and India's foreign secretaries scheduled meeting on January 15 was on track. The Indian authorities have linked the Foreign Secretary-level talks to Islamabad's "prompt and decisive" action on the Pathankot terror attack for which it has provided "actionable intelligence".
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