Parl Panel Raps Govt for Pathankot Attack & Delay in Rafale Deal

The panel said it did not understand how terrorists managed to breach Pathankot airbase security despite warnings.

A parliamentary panel has rapped the government for its failure to prevent the Pathankot terror attack in which seven security men were killed, saying “something is seriously wrong” in the country’s counter-terror establishment.

It also reproved the government for not inking the Rafale deal despite “considerable time” even as the government said the original contract for 126 planes could not be concluded because Dassault Aviation did not agree to certain tender clauses and its own bid.

In its 197th report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs observed that the role of Punjab Police is very “questionable and suspicious” during the 2 January terror attack.

The panel said it has failed to understand how terrorists managed to breach the high-security airbase in spite of the terror alert sounded well in advance.

The committee during its visit found that airbase’s security cover was not robust and it had a poorly guarded perimeter wall.

Report by Parliamentary Standing Committee

Also Read: Pathankot: Pakistan’s Cooperation Essential for Probe, Says NIA

The panel said that there cannot be two opinions on the fact that Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group was behind this ghastly attack which was established through interception of calls between terrorists and their handlers based in Pakistan.

Besides, weapons, ammunition and many items found in the possession of killed terrorists are also said to be having a ‘Made in Pakistan’ marking.

In view of the ease with which the terrorists sneaked into our side from Pakistan, the Committee understands that the attack cannot take place without active support from the security and intelligence agencies of Pakistan as four armed men cannot easily pass through heavy Pakistani defence establishment situated near a border area.

Report by Parliamentary Standing Committee

Expressing unhappiness, the Standing Committee also asked the government to ensure that the IAF achieves its authorised strength of 42 squadrons as against 33 presently.

It was in April last year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his trip to France, had announced the decision to acquire 36 Rafale fighter jets off the shelf in view of the critical operational necessity for multi-role combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

However, a contract is still to be signed due to the hard price negotiations.

While the cost of the 36 Rafale fighter jets, based on the original Request For Proposal (RFP) price while taking into account the foreign exchange and others, comes to about Rs 65,000 crore, India is bargaining hard to bring down the price to about Rs 59,000 crore.

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