India on general security alert after Jaishe attack at Pathankot

The attack on Pathankot airbase by Pakistan-based terrorists has triggered a general alert at air installations, including Rajiv Gandhi Intenrational Airport at Shamshabad, across the country on Saturday. The alert has been sounded by meetings at the highest levels. The seriousness of the attack can be gauged from the fact that the National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, plunged into review even before the daybreak. Doval is organising a review meeting with top officials in the Air Force Headquarters in New Delhi. The first decision of the meeting was to send additional forces to Pathankot airbase. It also raised security levels at all air installations. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, was to head a meeting later on Saturday evening, wherein Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the heads of the Army, Air Force and Navy services were expected to attend. Doval would give the inputs for the meeting. Even as the security agencies were tackling the terrorists, two big explosions occurred at Pathankot airbase. In all four terrorists and three IAF personnel were killed in the exchange of fire. Two terrorists were stated to be still at large. Intelligence Bureau and other agencies have attributed the attacks to Jaishe Mohammad, Pakistan-based terrorist group. The agencies noted that the terrorists at Pathankot had talked to their Pakistani bosses at least four times from the cell phone seized from the Gurdaspur Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh, whom the ultras had at first abducted. The Jaishe group was also involved in the attack on Indian Parliament in 2001. Some misadventure by Pakistan-based terrorits was expected around New Year. The fact that the current terrorist attack stretched beyond 2 days and that they had covered over 35 km without any security action clearly shows laxity on the part of security forces and security agencies. So drastic action could be expected at the evening meeting by the Prime Minister. At Shamshabad, the security personnel were checking each air passenger thoroughly.