Inside details of India's cross-border raid across Line of Control in Pakistan

Indian Army's action across the Line of Control (LoC) on the evening of December 25 which resulted in the killing of three Pakistani soldiers was today described as "selective targeting across the LoC", a "short-distance raid" and a "localised tactical operation" by highly-placed sources in India's defence establishment.

It was also acknowledged as a "tit-for-tat" reply for the attack carried out of Pakistan troops on December 23 in the Keri sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district in which one Major and three Army jawans were killed. In fact, sources said that Monday's raid was almost an "exact replica" of the raid conducted by the Pakistani soldiers on December 23.

The Pakistani troops who came under fire were from 59 Balooch Unit of the Rakhchakri Battalion of the Rawalkot Brigade. The engagement with Pakistani troops happened at around 6pm on Monday when a temporary post and a patrol party came under fire from the Indian Army. Firing from both sides continued for a long time even after the raid had ended and the situation continued to be tense in that area.

On Monday evening, first an explosion was conducted 200-300 metres across the LoC and following that the 8-10 member strong Pakistani patrol party came under fire from Indian Army's Ghatak team. Around four Indian Army troops conducted this raid, sources added.

Sources added that the Pakistani patrol party was probably in this area to lay a counter-ambush. "We were able to locate and target them," a source said. "The Indian Army will continue to exploit such fleeting opportunities," the source added.

While initial details suggests that three Pakistani troops got killed and one injured, sources said that intelligence reports indicate that the toll could climb.

Sources also added that this was a localised tactical operation conducted by Indian Army Commanders on the ground and that the decision to conduct this raid was taken at the Brigade/Battalion level.