Parliamentary Committee visits Pathankot, other border areas

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs today visited the Pathankot airbase, over a month after it was attacked by terrorists, and other border areas nearby.
"Led by the Chairperson (and Congress MP) Shri P Battacharya, in all 13 members of the committee visited Pathankot air base and other border areas," its member and SAD MP Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra told PTI over phone.
He said the members also visited Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur Sector, Paharpur, Narot Jaimal Singh and other places on the Indo-Pak border.
"We went inside the airbase. We were told how the terrorists got in and where they were engaged. We also met the senior IAF officials who gave us details," Chandumajra said.

He said the Committee took note of the challenging conditions in which the security forces perform their duties.
"We were told that during winters the visibility drops considerably. The terrain is also difficult near the border areas we visited. We felt our forces must be equipped with modern technology and equipment. Besides, greater coordination should be there between Punjab police, Army and BSF to defeat the nefarious designs of the enemy," he said.

Chandumajra also said they found there was scope for improving the road infrastructure, especially as these roads have to bear the load of heavy traffic through the year.

"We also felt the need to have lesser gaps between police/security 'nakas', which are at a distance of 3 km in areas like Pathankot. These nakas can be set up like those in J&K - at a distance of 1.9 km," he said.
He also said professionals like doctors, teachers and others who perform their duty in border and difficult areas should be given special border incentives.