It was perhaps the first major operation by armed forces of India wherein there was advance pinpointed intelligence of an attack was available and the elite National Security Guard troops were rushed even before the operation began. But, still it took four days for the security forces to put down the six attackers at the cost of seven security forces personnel, including a Lieutenant Colonel, and more than 20 injured.
Those critical of the way this operation was handled include the armed forces fraternity of India. Many believe that the National Security Advisre of India, Ajit Doval mishandled the operation right from the beginning.
On receving advanced intelligence about an imprending attack in Pathankot, Doval decided to rush an NSG contingent from near Delhi to Pathankot.
When the attack began in the early hours on Saturday, the Garuda commandoes of the Indian Air Force and the NSG were tasked to handle it along with the Defence Security Corps that comprises men retired from the defence forces.
Doval only requested two columns (50-60 men) of the Indian Army, while Pathankot has an entire division of the Army stationed at a short distance in Mamun.
Despite the vast experience of the Indian Army in dealing with such attacks in insurgency, it was tasked to support the Garudas, NSG and the DSC.
The operation that began on Saturday at around 4 am inside the Pathankot Air Force Station, stretched until late afternoon of Tuesday to take down six armed men.
Defence Minister of India, Manohar Parikar congratulated the men who 'effectively contained the attackers'. This was the second round of congratulatiory messages. Before this, leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister, Rajnath Singh had already congratulated the forces for 'securing a victory' over the attackers on Saturday itself, but then gunfight reignited and losses mounted on the Indian security forces.
Retired Senior army officers have openly criticised the handling of the operation. Lt. Gen (Retd) HS Panag has opined strongly that the operation should have been handled by the Indian Army. He wrote that the operation was a 'disaster from the word go'.
A piece on the BBC termed the operation a debacle for India.
While the Indian intelligence and security agencies are still confounded by what was prelude to the attack, an SP rank officer with his cook and a friend abudcted by suspected militants, there are reports of two more gunmen from the same module still being on the lose. And the analysts are hoping that the top brass in India gets its act together before another strike causes more damage.
