Indian troops have secured at an air force base near the border with Pakistanafter a pre-dawn raid by militants.

At least 12 people - all five attackers and seven Indian soldiers - were killed in the 15-hour gun fight..

Reuters news agency claims the attack on the Pathankot air force base is seen as an attempt to undo recent improvements in the relationship between rivals India and Pakistan.

The incident comes days after India's prime minister Narendra Modi visited Pakistani leader Nawaz Sharif - a meeting seen as an effort to decrease tensions between the neighbouring country.

Police are now investigating whether the militants came from the Indian portion of Kashmir or from Pakistan.

The base is located on the central road leading to the Indian-administered Kashmir region, around 50km from the Pakistan border.