Why Have You Fallen Behind, Group 2 Of Pathankot Terrorists Asked

PATHANKOT:  55 hours after terrorists struck a major air force base on Pathankot near the border with Pakistan, security forces were working on Monday to carefully defuse grenades.

Military trucks were seen entering and leaving the walled compound and helicopters were flying over it on Monday morning.

Seven military personnel have been martyred; at least 20 more have been wounded.

At least one terrorist, most likely more, are still believed to be hiding in the administrative block of the base. The bodies of four terrorists have been recovered so far. A fifth terrorist has been killed, but the body not yet recovered, said officials.
 
It's now clear, officials said, that the terrorists entered the air force base in two teams. One of the groups attacked a senior police officer and his two companions, then used their car to reach the vicinity of the base.

In an intercepted call, handlers for the terrorists are reportedly heard asking why second group of attackers had fallen behind. Investigators now say they are sure that the attackers infiltrated India together, but then split up to avoid detection.

The Pathankot base houses a fleet of India's Russian-origin MiG-21 fighter jets and Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters, along with other military hardware. The Defense Ministry said no aircraft or military equipment had been damaged in the fighting.
 
The terrorists are believed to have crossed over into India on the intervening night December 30-31; they then entered the air force base, which houses nearly 1,500 families and includes large forested areas. The firing began early on Saturday morning.

Manish Mehta, an Indian army spokesman, said the military was working at a "very fast pace" to defuse live hand grenades and gather the remains of the attackers, believed to be from the Jaish-e-Mohammed, a terror group based in Pakistan which claims to seek independence for Kashmir from India.   

The attack came about a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a surprise visit to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, the first by an Indian premier in 11 years.

Officials said the attack bore the hallmarks of previous suspected assaults by Pakistan-based militant groups, underscoring the fragility of recent efforts to revive bilateral talks.  There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Pakistan has condemned the attack.