While the combing operations are underway to sanitise the Pathankot IAF base that was under siege for four days, the Border Security Force (BSF) has submitted a preliminary report to the Ministry of Home Affairs on the breach of security along the border.
According to sources, the BSF is yet to find any breach in the international border. The BSF has in fact, turned its focus to look for possible tunnels or tractions that were used by the terrorists to infiltrate the border. A final report on the same will be submitted only after the BSF Director General DK Pathak returns from his tour of the international border.
Security officials have said that though all the six terrorists have been killed, the combing operations may continue for a day or two more at the forward base where seven security personnel were killed.
Meanwhile, in what could further nail Pakistan's hand in the Pathankot attacks, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) team investigating the case has found footprints from Pakistan shoe brand Epcot in Bamiyal area of Punjab.
With the focus shifting on investigation, anti-terror probe agency NIA's chief Sharad Kumar will arrive in Pathankot on Wednesday afternoon for an on-the-spot assessment. Kumar had said that solving the conspiracy behind the attack was a "very big challenge" but recalled how the agency had in the past established the identity of culprits in many blind cases.
"It's a very challenging case and a lot of investigation needs to be done. Therefore, I am not fixing any deadline to the case but we will try to complete the probe soon," Kumar had said.
Asked about the nationality of the terrorists involved in Pathankot attack, Kumar had said there was little doubt that the accused were from Pakistan and added "whatever evidence that is available in front of us till now is based on intercepted telephone calls between the terrorists and their handlers and family members across the border".
He, had however, refrained from naming the terror group responsible for the attack, saying "Let us work first. We will be able to establish everything once we have some evidence to support our claims. The case has to be proved before the court of law and therefore I will refrain from making statements on speculation."
The terrorists were believed to owe allegiance to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Kumar had said the probe was at an initial stage and refused to confirm if Pakistan's external spy agency ISI had a role to play in the incident. "I can't say whether ISI is involved or not. Let us see what happens after our probe is completed," he said.
NIA had yesterday registered three cases in connection with the brazen terror strike, including the murder of a taxi driver by suspected terrorists, kidnapping of a Superintendent of Police rank officer and attack on the IAF base on the intervening night of January one and two.
The NIA chief said Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) team was already assisting the 20-member agency team that is camping in Pathankot after the news of terror strike broke on January 2.
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