'Lack of coordination' in Pathankot op: Experts, veterans

Defence experts have deprecated the "lack of coordination" in the handling of the terror strike at Pathankot air base and questioned the multiplicity of agencies involved in the operation that continued for the third day today.
At the same time, the experts said there was no need to act in haste as the terrorists have now been "cornered" and rushing things would increase casualties, which stand at seven defence personnel, including one Lt Col of NSG.
They batted for better coordination between Indian Air Force and the Army in guarding air bases in case of exigencies like the one at Pathankot in Punjab.

"There is a lack of coordination. We have multiple agencies -- the NSG, Punjab Police, Garud Commandos of air force and the army involved in the operation.
"The army is well-equipped to handle such cases and this should have happened from day one, when the attack took place," said former army chief Gen. VP Malik, who added that it was easier to fix accountability that way.
"The entire operation could have been handled better and the army should have been called in much before as the cantonment is next to the base," he added.

Malik felt that the security forces were "complacent" in the initial stages of the operation, when attackers were killed on the first day, but noted that after sustaining the casualties, they would have become "cautious".

Lt Gen. (retd) HS Panag, former GOC-in-C, Northern Command, too, spoke about the need for better coordination and help from the army. He said that army infantry should have been deployed just when there was a security alert in order to protect the air base.
He also suggested that glaring lacunae existed in forces like Defence Security Corps (DSC), which is the first line of defence for guarding air bases.
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The experts, however, downplayed the operation entering its third day, saying now that the air assets have been secured and the terrorists cornered, the forces should not incur any further casualties.

"There is no hurry now. The operation is at a mature stage. And one takes times to deal with such operations," Malik said.
Kaydan said it is "pointless to hurry" and that "there should be no collateral damage" while noting that "the vital assets, too, have been secured".
The experts also opined that there were glaring lacunae in forces like the Defence Security Corps (DSC). They said there were "phenomenal lapses" in securing the air base and this was a "disaster waiting to happen".
"There are fundamental questions. How did the terrorists enter the air base in the first place, which itself is a security lapse.

"The DSC are the first line of defence, but are not well- equipped to deal with a terrorist attack. Air force has a perimeter of of 15-20km and there are some 4-5 DSC platoons at any air force base. But, at times, they miss out on their training, they join the forces only after they cross 37 years of age, when they are past their prime. How can you expect them to deal with such an attack?" said Panag.
He further averred that "although the Garud commandos are there, but even they are not trained to deal with such an eventuality".

"When there was a terror alert, infantry should have been brought in to secure the air base, which was not done," he added.