CPI(M) condemns Pathankot attack, says talks with Pakistan must go on

NEW DELHI: The CPI(M) today condemned the terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base and insisted that the Centre must continue holding parleys with Pakistan to "foil designs" of terror outfits to disrupt the recently- resumed peace talks between the two countries.

The CPI(M) Polit Bureau, however, said there was a need for a "full probe" into the manners the attack was handled by Indian authorities.

"The latest strike emanating from Pakistan has come in the aftermath of the decision to resume talks with Pakistan. It is clear the obvious intention is to disrupt the dialogue process. The central government should stay on course and foil the designs of the disruptors," the party said in a statement.

The Polit Bureau further observed there was "sufficient" intelligence about the impending attack and an alert had been sounded, "yet the terrorist group could enter the base premises".

"This operation has taken four full days to eliminate the attackers and even this was clouded by confusing statements from the top authorities. There is a need for a full probe and lessons to be learnt from this episode," it said.

Defence sources said the firing at the Pathankot Air Force base in Punjab ceased this morning after the attack that began in the wee hours on Saturday. However, search and combing operations were on to ensure that the defence installation was properly secured and sanitised.

Security forces had yesterday killed two more Pakistani terrorists inside the Pathankot air base with the government saying that six attackers had thus been neutralised. However, it was not clear whether all the intruders who attacked the base have been eliminated. Seven security personnel were also killed in the attack.