Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh today defended the state police for "any lapses" in the Pathankot terror attack, saying it was difficult to completely seal off vulnerable points along the international border.
"It is not proper to put blame on the Punjab Police for any lapse as they had already sounded the alert in relevant quarters after learning about the infiltration by the militants," he said.
The Congress leader was reacting to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's statements today that "some gaps" had led to the terror attack on the Air Force base in Pathankot on Saturday in which all the six infiltrators, who used some "Pakistan- made" equipment, were killed.
Amarinder maintained that there were certain vulnerable points along the international border whichwould be difficult to seal completely.
He, however, said the talks between India and Pakistan should continue while the neighbouring country must act against the rogue elements like the Jaish Mohammad and United Jihad Council which have owned up the responsibility for the attack on Pathankot airbase.
On being asked whether Prime Minister Modi was right in going toLahore recently, which was immediately followed by the attack on Pathankot airbase, theformer Chief Minister said there was "no alternative to peace and the talks must continue".
Moreover, peace between India and Pakistan is not only in the interest of both the countries, but much more in the interest of Punjab which will stand benefited more than any other state, he said.
The Lok Sabha MP said since the United Jihad Council (UJC) had owned up the responsibility for the attacks, it became the responsibility of Pakistan to act against them.
"Both UJC and Jaish Mohammad are based out of Pakistan and the authorities there know everything about these organisations," he said.
The PCC president and a former army man also opined that instead of putting the National Security Guard (NSG) in charge of theoperations in Pathankot, the operation should have been handled by the Army which hadbetter expertise in counter-insurgency operations.
"The combing and clearing operation should have been handed over to the Army which has a lot of expertise in counter-insurgency operations as in Kashmir. Here also, it was a jungle area where counter insurgency experts from the Army could have been put on job," he said.
He added that senior party leaders, including general secretary in charge Shakeel Ahmad, Campaign Committee chairperson Ambika Soni, CLP leader Charanjit Singh Channi, AICC secretary Harish Chaudhary and former PCC president Partap Singh Bajwa will be attending the bhog ceremony of those martyred in the Gurdaspur terror attack last year.
