The involvement of multiple agencies in the so-called counter-terrorism operation against terrorists who attacked the Pathankot air base was at the root of the confusion that surrounded the security forces’ response in eliminating the saboteurs.
A review of the counter-terror operation shows that the overlapping of ‘command and control’ responsibilities of the operation may have led to some confusion. Besides the National Security Guard, the operation involved Air Force Garuds, Defence Security Corps (DSC) and Punjab Police manning the area outside the air base.
Confusion Persists
There is apprehension that the intermittent firing after the second day of the operation in which four terrorists were killed could be by personnel of one of these forces which the others mistook as coming from more terrorists possibly holed up inside the base.
To add to the confusion, NSG Director General RC Tayal claimed yesterday that six, not four, terrorists entered the air base. This contradicts the version that there were only four terrorists who could sneak into the air base and engage the security forces for four days.
Other
vital questions remain unanswered even as the National Investigative Agency
(NIA) appears to have given up on any further clues which could unravel the
conspiracy behind the attack.
Probe Hitting a Dead End?
- A review of the Pathankot operation shows that the
overlapping of ‘command and control’ responsibilities may have led to some
confusion.
- There is still no clarity on the exact number
of terrorists who gained access to the air force base.
- To add to the confusion, the NSG Director General has
claimed that number of terrorists who made their way into the air base was
six.
- But evidence available does not add up because
only a total of four weapon-sets and backpacks have been recovered from the
site.
- NIA still trying to find out how the terrorists
had inside information which facilitated their smooth entry.
No Clarity on the Number of Attackers
More than a month after the attack, there is no
clarity on the number of terrorists involved and how they managed
to locate the route and gain easy access to the air base.
While confusion persists on the number of
attackers, ranging from four to six, the fact remains that only four sets of
weapons, backpacks and clothing etc have been recovered from the site. Also
only four bodies of terrorists have been recovered while the NIA claims it has
sent samples from the assault site to determine human DNA.
The controversial Punjab Police SP rank officer
Salwinder Singh was reported to have told his seniors that “four to six”
terrorists had abducted him. At the end of the second day of the
counter-terror operation, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh goofed up in
tweeting that all the “five” terrorists had been killed. A few hours later his
tweet was withdrawn.
Nabbing the Alleged Spy
Following fresh bout of gunfire from inside the air
base, the operation was resumed and subsequently an official statement was made
that while four terrorists had been killed two more were suspected to be
inside the Air Force station. The second ‘encounter’ went on for nearly 30
hours before a double storeyed building, where the suspected terrorists were
holed up, was destroyed. However, neither the bodies nor any tangible evidence
could be recovered from the debris.
The NIA has not found any clue on how the
terrorists had inside information which helped them identify the spot to enter
the air base. It has not confirmed whether the search lights were turned away
deliberately and whether the barbed wire fence was cut before the terrorists
reached the spot.
The recent arrest of a ‘spy’ from nearby Mamoon
army station has also yielded no clue to the Pathankot attack. The NIA had
subsequently raided the houses in the area and questioned around 250 daily-wage workers who enter the base daily for work, but have failed to unearth any clue.
(The writer is a Chandigarh-based senior journalist)
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