Pathankot Attack:One more setback

Attack on the IAF Base Pathankot

New year doesn't start well for India as at least six terrorist attack  the IAF base at Pathankot in Punjab resulting Seven service personnel death and at least thrice injured. Search operation is still on.

Subedar and honorary captain Fateh Singh

Pathankot is one of the major frontline base on the western front situated about 40km from Indo-Pak international border and is home of one of the major fighter plane(Mig 21) and helicopters.

As per report, terrorist crossed border on 31st December 2015 and managed to hijack the official Vehicle of S.P(Gurudaspur) when he was returning from shrine from Pathankot with two other. They were in Army fatigues. Later they killed one of them and threw them from moving vehicle.

Later S.P informed control room and senior authority about the possible terrorist attack, but initially they did not take seriously until intelligence agency intercept calls from S.P mobile, which was taken by terrorist, to Pakistan. They acted quickly and alerted the state and central govt. about the possible attack on Pathankot Base. 

Yet despite of high alert, terrorist managed to enter the IAF base and engage the security establishment comprising Army , IAF, NSG for more than 3 days. First attack was started on midnight of 1st and 2nd january.  Even 24hrs after attack, intelligence failed to identify the possible numbers of terrorist crossed border and number of attacker into the IAF base. This shows that terrorist have full idea about the base security and weakness and came fully prepared.

Once they attack the base, they managed to engage the elite NSG and Guard Commando for more than 3 days. This shows that the level of their training and motivation, which is not good news anyway.

Just consider what would have been happen if they had not abducted S.P's car and used his mobile to contact their bosses. Even after abducting and releasing S.P and his colleague, they roamed freely for more than 24 hrs and security agency had no clue about their whereabouts . Group of 6 terrorist managed to dodge security personnel and agencies for more than 24hrs before mounting attack on the base. Next time, may be they did not make such mistake and give so much time for being ready.

Now as the operation is almost over,there is need to analyse the situation where govt., agencies and security forces failed. The government is responding to its usual way  that "we will give befitting reply" . But they almost forgot that terrorist sneaked in our own country and kill our own people. Every time they attack we lose some precious life. Govt claimed that the IAF base is secure and operation is successful. But this is not enough to say when we have a body count higher the terrorist who sneaked in. May be India is the only country in the world where soldiers die more during peace time than war. 

When security forces were fighting with the infiltrators, Political parties were busy with their blame game and Media channel were busy with their TRP game and telecasted the footage of the conflict zone. Its seems that both(Political parties and Media channel) had not learned anything from 26/11. Instead of supporting and standing united they were blaming one another.

I don't understand when they stand united for country .

Now, some question are in mind :

• Even after alert by S.P about possible terrorist on loose, why didn't senior official take him seriously.
• Even after the alert of Intelligence security personals failed to decrease the causality.
• When did political parties sideline their political gain and became serious about the terrorism.

Every year we lose many lives due to the negligence of their wills.

Lets hope that now they will be serious on this issue and stand united.