Why the Pathankot Attack Probe Is Still Going Round in Circles

Is the NIA probe of the Pathankot terror attack case headed in the right direction?

A review of the counter-terror operation shows that the overlapping of ‘command and control’ responsibilities of the operation may have led to some confusion. (Photo: The Quint)

The involvement of multiple agencies in the so-called counter-terrorism operation against terrorists who attacked the Pathankot air base was at the root of the confusion that surrounded the security forces’ response in eliminating the saboteurs.

A review of the counter-terror operation shows that the overlapping of ‘command and control’ responsibilities of the operation may have led to some confusion. Besides the National Security Guard, the operation involved Air Force Garuds, Defence Security Corps (DSC) and Punjab Police manning the area outside the air base.

Confusion persists on the number of terrorists who gained access to the air base. (Photo: IANS)

Confusion Persists

There is apprehension that the intermittent firing after the second day of the operation in which four terrorists were killed could be by personnel of one of these forces which the others mistook as coming from more terrorists possibly holed up inside the base.

To add to the confusion, NSG Director General RC Tayal claimed yesterday that six, not four, terrorists entered the air base. This contradicts the version that there were only four terrorists who could sneak into the air base and engage the security forces for four days.

Other vital questions remain unanswered even as the National Investigative Agency (NIA) appears to have given up on any further clues which could unravel the conspiracy behind the attack.

Probe Hitting a Dead End?

• A review of the Pathankot operation shows that the overlapping of ‘command and control’ responsibilities may have led to some confusion.
  
• There is still no clarity on the exact number of terrorists who gained access to the air force base.
  
• To add to the confusion, the NSG Director General has claimed that number of terrorists who made their way into the air base was six.
  
• But evidence available does not add up because only a total of four weapon-sets and backpacks have been recovered from the site.
  
• NIA still trying to find out how the terrorists had inside information which facilitated their smooth entry.
  

The controversial Punjab Police SP rank officer Salwinder Singh was reported to have told his seniors that “four to six” terrorists had abducted him. (Photo: IANS)

No Clarity on the Number of Attackers

More than a month after the attack, there is no clarity on the number of terrorists involved and how they managed to locate the route and gain easy access to the air base.

While confusion persists on the number of attackers, ranging from four to six, the fact remains that only four sets of weapons, backpacks and clothing etc have been recovered from the site. Also only four bodies of terrorists have been recovered while the NIA claims it has sent samples from the assault site to determine human DNA.

The controversial Punjab Police SP rank officer Salwinder Singh was reported to have told his seniors that “four to six” terrorists had abducted him. At the end of the second day of the counter-terror operation, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh goofed up in tweeting that all the “five” terrorists had been killed. A few hours later his tweet was withdrawn.

Army personnel on guard outside the Pathankot air base. . (Photo: AP)

Nabbing the Alleged Spy

Following fresh bout of gunfire from inside the air base, the operation was resumed and subsequently an official statement was made that while four terrorists had been killed two more were suspected to be inside the Air Force station. The second ‘encounter’ went on for nearly 30 hours before a double storeyed building, where the suspected terrorists were holed up, was destroyed. However, neither the bodies nor any tangible evidence could be recovered from the debris.

The NIA has not found any clue on how the terrorists had inside information which helped them identify the spot to enter the air base. It has not confirmed whether the search lights were turned away deliberately and whether the barbed wire fence was cut before the terrorists reached the spot.

The recent arrest of a ‘spy’ from nearby Mamoon army station has also yielded no clue to the Pathankot attack. The NIA had subsequently raided the houses in the area and questioned around 250 daily-wage workers who enter the base daily for work, but have failed to unearth any clue.

(The writer is a Chandigarh-based senior journalist)