Chief of the Army Staff General Dalbir Singh on Wednesday said that isolated incidents like the attack on the Pathankot Indian Air Force base can be avoided if border management is strengthened. “In our efforts to fast-track technological progress, a new army design bureau is being set up,” he said, adding that numerous measures were being taken to expedite the introduction of modern military equipment into their arsenal, ANI reported. Singh was addressing a press conference.

Singh also assured the country that the army is “highly motivated” and ready to respond to any national security threats. Speaking about the Pathankot attack in which seven security personnel were killed, he said, “Lessons definitely need to be learnt from the Pathankot operation, but it will be premature to elaborate before the National Investigation Agency probe is over.” He explained that they took their time to complete combing operations to ensure the least possible number of casualties and so that no terrorist escaped.

The army chief also reaffirmed that markings on the weapons recovered clearly indicate that the terrorists were from Pakistan. The NIA is looking into it. He added that the motive behind the attack was to inflict the maximum number of casualties and to generate media hype.