PATHANKOT, India: A dramatic assault on an Indian air base near the Pakistan border was finally declared over Saturday 14 hours after suspected militants struck, leaving three security officers dead, authorities said, an attack that threatens to undermine the countries’ fragile peace process.

At least four attackers also died in shoot-outs with security forces at Pathankot base in northern Punjab state, after gunmen from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed group infiltrated the site at 3:30 a.m. (2200 GMT) Saturday.

The assault — a rare targeting of an Indian military installation outside disputed Kashmir — comes a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a surprise visit to Pakistan, the first by an Indian premier in 11 years.

The possible involvement of Pakistan-based militants in the attack threatens to derail talks between the nuclear-armed rivals.

“I congratulate our armed forces and other security forces on successfully neutralizing all the five terrorists in ‘Pathankot Operation’,” Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.

Security officials only confirmed that four attackers had died.

An Indian army source said “at least three security personnel have died” in the incident, with at least three others injured, adding that officers were still combing the base for residual explosives.

Modi, on a visit to the southern city of Mysore, responded to the attack on Twitter Saturday evening.

“Enemies of humanity who can’t see India progress, such elements attacked in Pathankot but our security forces did not let them succeed,” he tweeted.

Pakistan also moved to condemn the attack, and voiced optimism over continued dialogue with its long-time foe.

“Building on the goodwill created during the recent high-level contacts between the two countries, Pakistan remains committed to partner with India... to completely eradicate the menace of terrorism afflicting our region,” Islamabad’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

The Pathankot air base houses dozens of fighter jets and is important for its strategic location about 50 km from the Pakistan border.