The surgical strike across the LOC on September 29 once again reiterated the country's resolve to impose a cost on Pakistan for acts of terror against India and its citizens. While the "strike deep inside enemy territory" was not the first of its kind, the Indian government's decision to take ownership of the strike certainly was one of its kind.

Senior functionaries in the current security establishment have confirmed that India undertook several similar cross border strikes in the last ten years, inflicting heavy damage on the Pakistani side both in terms of men and property.

In March 1998, a contingent of Indian Special Forces crossed the LoC to avenge the killings of 29 people in Prankote village in Jammu and Kashmir by the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Also read: India conducted major surgical strike in 2013, says Chidambaram



This was followed by a similar mission in January 2000, Indian Special forces crossed the Neelam river to get to the Nadala enclave to avenge the kidnapping and killing of five Indian soldiers.

SEVERAL INTENSE ARMY OPERATIONS ALONG LOC



In Feburary, the same year Indian forces were in action once again across the LoC in Nakyal Kotli sector in PoK for an operation in which Pakistan is said to have lost not less than 16 of its people. In response to an attack by Pakistani troops against a border observation post in Salhotri village in the Poonch sector which resulted in the death of some of our soldiers, India retaliated with a raid in the Bhattal sector in Poonch.

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In August 2011 and in January 2013, Indian forces again crossed the LoC in response to transgressions from the Pakistani side. In both these operations there were considerable loss of both men and material on the other side.

On most occasions in the past India has as a matter of policy chosen not to publicize the strikes. "We didn't go public in keeping with our policy of strategic restraint" says former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Also read: After surgical strikes, Pakistan mobilises its reserves; India readies matching response



RATIONALE BEHIND NOT GOING PUBLIC



The rationale behind not going public according to senior functionaries of the previous government was that they wanted to leave enough elbow room for the other side to absorb the message and bring in the necessary changes in its behaviour.

Also read: 'Most aggressive action from India in years': What international media said about surgical strikes



"The damage in going public is that it results in public opinion and the prestige gets involved severely restricting the others sides ability to make the necessary changes even while absorbing the message," said former Minister of Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari.

Also read: Surgical strikes in PoK: How Indian para commandos killed 50 terrorists, hit 7 camps



