TERRORISM// On January 2, 2016, a heavily-armed group of five terrorists from Pakistan attacked the Pathankot Air Force Station, part of the Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force. Four attackers and two security forces personnel were killed in the initial battle, with an additional security member dying from injuries hours later, after the terrorists breached a high-security security perimeter and entered the base to carry out the attack. The gun battle and the subsequent combing operation lasted about 17 hours, resulting in five attacks and three security personnel dead. Gunshots rang out at the facility in Pathankot around 3.30 am as the group in army-style clothing — believed to be operatives of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group — launched the dastardly operation. The attack came less than 24 hours after an alarm was sounded in the state over the assault of a top police officer by suspected Pakistani terrorists. Suspected to have infiltrated about three days ago, the attackers, with a huge quantity of RDX in their possession, made their way to the base from the rear area, where there is a jungle. Security forces were put on high alert after Gurdaspur Superintendent of Police Salwinder Singh said he and his associates were kidnapped by five armed men in army fatigues. A team of 50 commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG) led the fight against the militants, a top security official said. The NSG commandos were flown to Pathankot as soon as the alert was sounded. The IAF used its two attack helicopters to assist the joint team of ground troops to neutralise the remaining terrorists. The attack came close on the heels of an upswing in India-Pakistan ties after PM Modi made a surprise trip to Lahore in December, and held talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif.