Orange alert for IAF bases at Srinagar, Avantipur, Jammu, Pathankot, Hindan
Agencies
Jammu, September 25:
The Indian Air Force has put five airbases on alert after intelligence agencies warned of suicide attacks by Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, news agency ANI reported on Wednesday.
ANI reported that an orange alert had been issued for the Indian Air Force bases in Srinagar, Avantipur and Jammu (all in Jammu and Kashmir) and Pathankot (Punjab) and Hindan (Ghaziabad, near Delhi).
Intelligence officials warned up to 10 Jaish terrorists could attempt to carry out suicide attacks on the bases. The orange alert is the second-highest state of alert for the Indian Air Force after the red alert status, which entails restrictions on movement.
The report comes two days after Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat warned that the Jaish facility at Balakot, which was attacked by the Indian Air Force in February, had been reactivated and was preparing to send terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir. Rawat had claimed a “minimum of 500 terrorists” were waiting to enter India.
The Times of India reported on Tuesday that security agencies feared an attack by Pakistan-based terrorists between September 25 and 30.
The Pathankot airbase was attacked shortly after New Year in 2016. Seven security personnel were killed in the attack, with security forces taking four days to clear the base of the terrorists. No Indian Air Force aircraft were targeted in the attack.
