Narendra Modi reviews Kabul attack

New Delhi: As the operation to flush out terrorists at the Pathankot airbase entered the third day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held an hour-long meeting with national security adviser Ajit Doval to review the situation there as well as the attack on the Indian consulate in Afghanistan.

Sources said that at the meeting, which began at 11 am, Mr Modi was apprised of the situation in both Pathankot and Mazar-e-Sharif (where the Indian consulate attack began Sunday night). Measures which need to be taken to control the situation in Pathankot were discussed, sources said. Finance minister Arun Jaitley and defence minister Manohar Parrikar were also present.

Officials privy to the operations said the security forces and the ITBP men had seen two bodies been dragged away on Sunday night and it is expected that the attack is the handiwork of at least 5-6 terrorists.

Prime Minister Modi, meanwhile, told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who called him up Monday to brief him on the situation in Mazar-e-Sharif, that India would always stand with the people of Afghanistan despite attacks like the one on the Indian consulate.

Soon after returning from a two-day visit to Karnataka, Mr Modi had chaired a similar meeting on Sunday night of top officials, including Mr Doval and foreign secretary S. Jaishankar, to review the situation in Pathankot.

On Monday, President Ghani also strongly condemned the “cross-border” terrorist strike in Pathankot, a clear pointer to Pakistan, and extended condolences at the loss of lives. During the telephonic call, Mr Ghani briefed Mr Modi on the terror attack in Mazar-e-Sharif, a PMO statement said.

The PM expressed deep appreciation for the exemplary bravery and courage shown by Afghan national security forces in thwarting the Mazar-e-Sharif hit, and ensuring the security and safety of the Indian consulate and all Indian personnel, the statement said.