Pakistan probes terror link to attack

Pakistan says it is working with India to investigate whether terrorist groups played a role in an attack on an Indian airbase that left 12 people dead.

An Indian air force soldier outside the Air Force base in Pathankot

Indian forces have killed a fifth gunman as they battle to clear out militants from an air base. (AAP)

Pakistan is investigating the possible involvement of terrorist groups operating from its soil in an attack on an Indian airbase in which at least 12 people died.

"In line with Pakistan's commitment to effectively counter and eradicate terrorism, the government is in touch with the Indian government and is working on the leads provided by it," ministry spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said in a statement.

Gunmen wearing Indian army uniforms stormed the airbase in India's Punjab province near the country's border with Pakistan on Saturday, killing at least seven soldiers in gun battles over the next three days.

Five of the gunmen were killed and Indian officials said an unidentified body found at the base was suspected to be of a sixth militant.

Indian officials initially blamed the Jaish-e-Mohammed militant group that allegedly operates from a Pakistani border town.

But on Monday the United Jihad council (UJC), an umbrella organisation for militants fighting in the Kashmir valley, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Indian forces were conducting searches at the airbase to ensure there were no remaining militants four days after the assault.

"It seems all the militants have been neutralised but the combing operations are continuing to see if there are any remaining militants. We cannot say right now that all militants are killed," air force spokeswoman Rochelle D'Silva said.

The attack at Pathankot base came over a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a surprise two-hour visit to Pakistan on Christmas Day.

Modi's visit to its neighbour was the first by an Indian leader in more than a decade.

There have been fears that militant groups might attempt to sabotage efforts to normalise ties between India and Pakistan, nuclear-armed rivals which have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.

"Living in the same region and with a common history, the two countries should remain committed to a sustained dialogue process.

The challenge of terrorism calls for strengthening our resolve to a cooperative approach," Khalilullah said.


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Source: AAP


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