Defence expert Qamar Agha on Saturday said that the attack on the Indian Air Force base in Punjab’s Pathankot was deliberately done to scuttle the peace process initiated by India, adding that the militant organization as well as the Pakistan Army has always opposed the dialogues.
“It is basically done to scuttle the peace process initiated by India. We know that the militant organization as well as the Pakistan Army is opposed to these talks, they don’t want the relationship to improve between both the nations,” Agha told media.
“It is a very sad incident; it should be condemned by the international community not just India and Pakistan.
Asserting that the attack of Pathankot can be linked with Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, Agha said they (Pakistani militant outfits) have sleeper cells and they are using these militants for such attacks.
“They are very well prepared for this; earlier it was Kashmir now Punjab is in focus,” he added.
Agha also said that there are parallel activities are going on, on one side the espionage is done and on the other side these militant attacks are done.
“The ISI is hand in gloves with the militants,” he added.
Earlier today, around five militants in Army fatigue opened fire near the Air Force station here early in the morning today and a massive gunbattle occurred between the security forces and the attackers.
The Pathankot National Security Guard team and the Garud Commando Force were engaged in the gun battle with terrorists in the non-operational area of the base.
The firing began at 3:30 am today and four militants have been killed so far in the heavy firing and the area has been cordoned off.
The remaining terrorists have been cordoned to the domestic area of Air Force Station and the technical area of the airbase is safe.
