Vital clues missed before Pathankot air base attack

Even as the counter-terror operations enter the fourth day at the Pathankot Indian Air Force base, there are several questions being raised about the security and the preparedness of our security forces.

Many are also stating that there were some clues and lapses, which could have avoided this entire incident from becoming a debacle.

Officials and security experts can’t help but raise the issue of the hijacking of a police officer’s car a day before. The hijacking of a police officer’s car by terrorists disguised in uniform should have set off alarm bells and helped prevent a deadly weekend attack on a military air base.

Police Superintendent Salwinder Singh’s complaint of his car being hijacked was not taken seriously because his record has not been clean.

Furthermore, it was 12 hours after Singh’s car was hijacked that the terrorists launched the attack on the air base, which warrants the question: “How were they allowed to roam around for 24 hours?”

Furthermore, a lack of inter-agency cooperation may have hobbled the security response.

Another weakness which has been displayed after the attack is the lack of surveillance. The base is surrounded by a 3-metre (10-foot) wall topped by barbed wire, but lacks surveillance. 

Image: Security forces personnel during their operation against the militants at the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot. Photograph: PTI