Army unit crosses LoC, kills 3 Pak soldiers in Poonch
26 Dec 2017
The Indian Army on Monday night destroyed a number of Pakistani posts across Jammu Kashmir's Poonch district, killing at least three Pakistani soldiers.
The Indian action in the Rukh Chakri sub-sector across the Line of Control in the Rawalakote area came two days after Pakistani troops, in unprovoked firing in Keri sector of Rajouri district, killed three Indian soldiers including a major on Saturday. Describing the killing of its soldiers as ''dastardly'', the Indian army had said that ''it shall retaliate at a time and choice of its choosing''.
According to NDTV, around 10 soldiers of the Army, possibly a Special Forces Unit, crossed the LoC and killed three Pakistani soldiers. Sources described it as a "localised tactical level operation" by a local Army commander.
They did not use the term "surgical strike" to describe the operation, which targeted a specific Pakistani post. The operation was described as "selective targeting", meant to be limited in scope to achieve a very specific goal.
An Indian Express report, citing sources, said that Indian action came after suspicious activity was noticed at forward Pakistani posts along the LoC opposite Poonch late on Sunday evening. Some Pakistani posts appeared to have been damaged as thick smoke billowed across the border.
Pakistan's Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed killing of three Pakistani soldiers in firing from Indian side, calling it ''unprovoked'' Indian firing from across the LoC.
On Sunday, Indian army troops in Nowshera had killed a Pakistani sniper opposite Rajouri's Nowshera sector when, according to reports, he was taking a position to fire at the Indian side.
On Saturday, Pakistan troops infiltrated almost 400 metres across the LoC to target Indian Army soldiers, sources said.
The attackers were part of a Pakistan Border Action Team. These groups include special forces of the Pakistan Army and terrorists and are known to intrude into India to target Indian soldiers patrolling the border, according to NDTV.