Satisfied with response to Pathankot attack, Modi says after his visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after a visit to Pathankot on Saturday that he was satisfied with how security forces responded to the terror attack at the IAF airbase.

"Was briefed in great detail on how our forces neutralised such a serious terrorist attack. Noted with satisfaction the the decision-making and its execution, the considerations that went into our tactical response. Also noted coordination among various field units," a series of tweets from his office said.

This comes amid criticism on how the government responded to the terror attack at the frontier town in which terrorists, believed to be from Pakistan, killed seven security personnel before being gunned down.

He also lauded the bravery of the men and women of the security forces saying , "they are our pride."

The PM arrived by an IAF aircraft and was briefed by senior officers from the Army and IAF. He also met family members of security personnel who were killed in the terror strike.

Modi then conducted an aerial survey of the border areas with Pakistan, before going back to Delhi.

Security forces had on Friday declared the sprawling IAF station fully sanitised after a massive combing operation which spanned over three days.

"The combing operation at the Air Force station is over," a senior IAF official said, adding the entire area has been sanitised.

The operation to ensure that no terrorist was hiding at the airbase was carried out jointly by Army, NSG and IAF's Garud commandos.

Modi's visit comes even as a nervous Pakistan continued to play hardball with India after New Delhi sent a terse signal that foreign secretary-level talks hinged on action against those behind the attack Top Pakistan government sources revealed Islamabad reiterated that 'India can't impose conditions for talks'.

Pakistan has "serious doubts" on whether the Pathankot attackers came from its territory and is now expecting India to share DNA evidence, according to sources.

Six terrorists, believed to be from Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed attacked the IAF airbase last Saturday and held security forces in an encounter for four days before being killed.