10 years after surgical strikes, more eyes on ground and sky, focus on Jammu

10 years after surgical strikes, more eyes on ground and sky, focus on Jammu Ten years afterwards, counter-terrorism operations, cross-border retaliatory strikes, and the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir have all changed significantly.

Key points

• 4 min read New Delhi Updated: Sep 29, 2026 05: 55 AM IST.
• The operation was in retaliation to the September 18 terrorist attack on the Army Brigade Headquarters near Uri, in which 19 soldiers were killed.
• In September 2016, Army carried out what it described as its first coordinated cross-border surgical strikes throughout the LoC.
• The troops carried weapons, rocket launchers, flamethrowers and grenades.

In September 2016, Army carried out what it described as its first coordinated cross-border surgical strikes throughout the LoC. (Express File Photo).

Ten years ago, on the night of September 28-29, the Indian Army carried out what it described as its first coordinated cross-border surgical strikes throughout the Line of Control. The operation was in retaliation to the September 18 terrorist attack on the Army Brigade Headquarters near Uri, in which 19 soldiers were killed.

Teams of the Army's Para (Special Forces) flew over the LoC and targeted seven terrorist launchpads – both north and south of the Pir Panjal range – under the cover of artillery fire, killing an estimated 35-50 terrorists. The troops carried weapons, rocket launchers, flamethrowers and grenades. While the Army had carried out cross-border operations before this, it was the first time it publicly acknowledged carrying out "surgical strikes".

Taken together, the developments around 10 years after surgical strikes, more eyes on ground and sky, focus point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.