Army Chief Dalbir Singh while speaking about the Pathankot attack revealed that the firearms recovered from the site had markings from Pakistan. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which “is still investigating, they will inform further”.
Singh also said that the Mazar-i-Sharif attack is not related to the Pathankot attacks and that “both are isolated incidents”.
The Pathankot operation ran for more than 70 hours, including the combing operation which Singh says “was a good operation. To ensure less casualties we had to take time to complete operation.”
On why the operation took so long to get completed, Singh said the “matter (is) best left to commanders on the ground who did a splendid job.”
There were several security forces deployed to contain the scene at the Pathankot air force base. Singh maintained that Army was “under nobody’s command, it was (the) western army commander who monitored Pathankot attack on my behalf.”
The NSG (National Security Guard) officials were deployed and the maximum casualty happened in that camp. However, Singh said “NSG is the best force to deal with hostage situation, (so it) was a good decision.”
Among others, eight Army columns each with 70 officials and Para forces were on ground at Pathankot.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)