Pathankot, Mazar-e-Sharif attacks reminder of terror threat: US lawmaker

WASHINGTON: The terrorist attacks on the IAF base in Pathankot and the Indian Consulate in Afghanistan's Mazar-e-Sharif city are stark reminders of the challenges posed by terrorism in the region, a top US lawmaker has said.

"I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks on India's Pathankot military base as well as on the Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan," Congressman Brad Sherman, 61, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said yesterday.

"There is speculation that these attacks might be in reaction to positive outcomes from Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's recent visits (to) Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said.

Sherman strongly encouraged the governments in the region to make every effort to find the terrorists who carried out these attacks and bring them to justice.

"These attacks are a stark reminder of the ongoing danger terrorism poses throughout much of the world. The United States should continue to assist these governments and ensure they can combat this scourge," Sherman added.

An intense 25-hour gun-battle between security forces and terrorists outside the Indian Consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif came to end last night with the killing of all the attackers who attempted to storm the Mission building.

Heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists on Saturday attempted to storm the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot. The attackers were believed to have infiltrated from Pakistan and there was speculation that they may belong to Jaish-e-Mohammad headed by Maulana Masood Azhar of the Kandahar hijack episode.