UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemns Pathankot terror attack

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the terror attack on the IAF base in Pathankot and encouraged leaders of India and Pakistan to build on recent high-level exchanges between the two nations to address all outstanding issues through dialogue.

"... the Secretary-General condemns the terrorist attack at the Pathankot air base in India. He is aware that the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan had a phone conversation to discuss this issue," Ban's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters here.

He added that the UN chief "encourages both countries to build on recent high-level exchanges to address all outstanding issues through dialogue."

Dujarric had not commented on the terror attack in Pathankot when asked yesterday, saying that the operation there was still ongoing.

The Pathankot terror attack began on Saturday last with six terrorists sneaking into the Indian Air Force base, leading to an encounter in which seven security-men, including a Lt Colonel, were killed.

Six terrorists were eliminated during the encounter with the security forces.

The terrorists were believed to owe allegiance to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).