The much-hyped surgical strike on last Wednesday night was not the only time that Indian Army had crossed the Line of Control to take punitive action. According to former home minister P Chidambaram, a similar "major strike took place in January 2013, when the UPA was in power".

In a exclusive interview to Mail Today, Chidambaram said the government of the day then chose not to go public "in keeping with its policy of strategic restraint ".

The Congress leader cautioned the country against drawing any premature conclusions from the strike. "We need to evaluate over a period of time whether this leads to a decline in cross border terror and deters Pakistan, before passing any judgement ," he said.

The former Union minister felt it would be premature to describe the strike as a "paradigm shift" in the country's policy towards Pakistan. "The government claims it's a shift. Whether that indeed is the case, we will know only with the passage of time," he said.

Chidambaram was quick to add that his party was wholeheartedly behind the Narendra Modi government on the issue and will continue to do in matters related to nation's security. "However, the government will have to own up the consequences of its decision," he added.

Also read: Chidambaram to India Today: Jammu and Kashmir needs unique political system

