Pathankot gunbattle ends: 3 IAF men martyred, all 5 militants killed

Security forces have neutralised five suspected Pakistani terrorists who staged an attack on an Air Force Base here in Punjab's Pathankot district, triggering an encounter. Three IAF personnel were martyred and 6 security men were injured in the gunbattle that ensued.

All five terrorists have now been neutralised, security officials said.

At least five militants, believed to be from the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group, decked in Army uniforms launched the attack in the wee hours with an aim of destroying the air base, a top security official said.

The entire area was cordoned off, police said, adding that the attackers, who had abducted an SP yesterday, are linked with attack and had also made calls to Pakistan. Pakistan's role became even more evident with reports of call intercepts revealed that the terrorists were in touch with their handlers in Pakistan.

0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; outline: none medium; border: 0px none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">A total of four calls were made to Pakistan just hours before the terrorists launched the attack. One call was made by a terrorist to his mother informing her that he was on a suicide mission, intercepts have revealed.

Intelligence inputs had been available of a likely attempt by terrorists to infiltrate into the military installation in Pathankot area, the IAF said, adding that the inputs enabled security agencies to detect a group of  terrorists through aerial surveillance.

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

Though the encounter is now over, combing operations are still on.