Indian Air Force Base Under Attack, Two Soldiers Killed

The Indian Air Force (IAF) base in the northwestern state of Punjab was attacked by a group of gunmen on Saturday morning.

Four of the gunmen were killed by the security forces at the base in Pathankot, located about 50km from the Pakistan border, Al Jazeera reported Saturday.

However, fresh gunfire have been heard after Indian officials said the exchanges of fire had ended at the base. It is believed that at least two Indian servicemen have been killed.

A senior Indian police officer said that a red alert has been issued across Punjab state in the wake of the incident. Helicopters have been dispatched to the base and India’s National Security Guard has been called in.

The attackers have been contained in a non-operational part of the base and the MiG-29 fighter aircraft and helicopters kept at the base are safe, according to various media reports.

One Indian home ministry official was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera that Punjab and Jammu states were on high alert and all defence bases had been sealed.