2016 Pathankot attack

2016 Pathankot attack
LocationPathankot AFS, Punjab, India
Coordinates32°14′01″N 75°38′04″E / 32.23361°N 75.63444°E / 32.23361; 75.63444
Date2–5 January 2016
Began at 03:30 (IST)
TargetIndian Air Force
Attack type
Suicide mission
WeaponsAK-47, Grenades, Grenade launchers, Mortars, IED
Deaths12
(8 victims + 4 Terrorists)[1][2]
1 civilian and
7 security personnel (5 Defence Security Corps personnel; 1 IAF Garud commando; 1 National Security Guard)[3][4]
Injured25
VictimsOne civilian, Soldiers defending the base
Perpetrators
No. of participants
4
Defenders
MotiveIslamic terrorism
2016 Pathankot attack is located in Punjab
Pathankot Air Force Station
Pathankot Air Force Station
Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Dina Nagar
Dina Nagar
class=notpageimage|
Pathankot Air Force Station shown in the map of Punjab near the Pakistani border, along with Dina Nagar and state capital Chandigarh.

On January 2 2016, 4 militants belonging to Islamic terrorist United Jihad Council[5] attacked the Indian Air Force's Pathankot Airbase, part of its Western Air Command.

Four attackers and two security forces personnel were killed in the initial battle, with an additional security force member dying from injuries hours later.[10][11] The gun battle and the subsequent combing operation lasted about 17 hours on 2 January, resulting in five attackers and three security personnel dead.[12][13] Further three soldiers died after being admitted to hospital with injuries, raising the death toll to six soldiers.[2] On 3 January, fresh gunshots were heard, and another security officer was killed by an IED explosion.[14][15] The operation continued on 4 January, and a fifth attacker was confirmed killed.[16] Not until a final militant was reported killed on 5 January was the anti-militant operation declared over, though further searches continued for some time.[17]

The attack received wide international condemnation.[18] Though the United Jihad Council, a Kashmir-based militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack on 4 January,[5] the attackers, who were wearing Indian Army fatigues,[7] were subsequently suspected to belong to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, a group designated a terrorist organisation by India, the US, the UK and the UN.[19][20]

The attack led to a breakdown in India-Pakistan relations, which remained largely unresolved as of September 2023.[21] Media reports suggested that the attack was an attempt to derail a fragile peace process meant to stabilise the deteriorated relations between India and Pakistan, as several pieces of evidence were found linking the attackers to Pakistan.[22][23][24][25]

Shahid Latif, a senior Jaish-e-Mohammed commander and mastermind of the attack was assassinated by unknown gunmen on October 10 2023.[26] Latif, along with his brother and bodyguards, were targeted at dawn in a mosque in Daska, Pakistan.[27][28][29]

  1. ^ "Forensics can't find human remains: Only 4 Pathankot attackers confirmed". 2 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b "4 Terrorists, 7880 Soldiers Killed in Pathankot Terror Attack: Live Updates". NDTV. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  3. ^ "NSG Lieutenant Colonel Among 7 Martyred In Pathankot Attack, Funeral Today". ndtv.com. 4 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Govt denies lapses in Pathankot op; unsure of number of terrorists involved". 3 January 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Ashiq, Peerzada (4 January 2016). "United Jihad Council claims responsibility for Pathankot attack". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Jaish-e-Mohammed, the terror group behind the attack on Pathankot IAF base". 2 January 2016.
  7. ^ a b "LIVE: Terror attack at Pathankot Air Force base; 2 terrorist killed".
  8. ^ "Pathankot Attack: Haryana Salutes Martyred Garud Commando". New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  9. ^ PTI. "Pathankot Attack: Rs. 20 Lakh Compensation For Martyred Garud Commando". NDTV. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference dnalive was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Joseph, Josy (2 January 2016). "Terrorists storm air force base, first challenge to Modi's Pak outreach". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  12. ^ "5 terrorists, 3 jawans killed in gunbattle at Air Force base in Punjab". TheHindu. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference toi17 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ "Pathankot attack: Fresh gunshots, blasts heard from inside air base, 3 injured". The Times of India. 3 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  15. ^ "India Says Search for Attackers at Air Base Still Not Over". The New York Times. Pathankot. The Associated Press. 3 January 2016. Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  16. ^ "Fifth terrorist killed, says NSG; combing operations underway at Pathankot airbase". Deccan Chronicle. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.A 6th terrorist is also believed to have been killed.
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference 6attacker was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ "Gunmen Killed in Pathankot, India, Air Base Attack". The New York Times. 3 January 2016.
  19. ^ "The List established and maintained by the 1267/1989/2253 Committee". UN.ORG. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  20. ^ "Pathankot attack: First terrorist was killed while he was climbing 10 meter high wall". The Indian Express. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  21. ^ "Pakistan to consider India's request to probe Pathankot attack after Eid". The Indian Express. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  22. ^ "Terrorist Attack on Pathankot, India: Very Bad, But, U.S. Will Promote Peace Talks by Modi Anyway". Forbes. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  23. ^ "Anti-peace forces behind Pathankot terror attack, says Harsimrat". www.hindustantimes.com/. hindustantimes. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  24. ^ "Pathankot terror attack shouldn't deter peace talks with Pakistan, say some opposition leaders". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  25. ^ Filkins, Dexter. "The Pakistani Dystopia". The New Yorker. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  26. ^ "The Saga of Unknown Gunmen: US, Canada, UK, Czechia, PoK and Pakistan - The News Dispatcher". 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Key conspirator behind 2016 attack on Pathankot airbase killed in Pakistan". The Indian Express. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  28. ^ "Pathankot attack mastermind Shahid Latif killed in Pakistan mosque". The Indian Express. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  29. ^ "2016 Pathankot attack handler Shahid Latif gunned down in Pakistan mosque". The Times of India. 12 October 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 October 2023.