Multi Agency Centre had alerted Army of a possible terrorist raid in LoC

NEW DELHI: The Multi Agency Centre (MAC) had issued warnings in Jammu on Sunday and here on Monday to the Army about a possible terrorist raid on one of the military posts in Mendhar, raising questions if the raid was a joint operation of the Pakistani Army and terrorists.

The warning came true so precisely — unlike several occasions in the past when MAC has warned of such raids that never happened — that it has baffled sources in the intelligence agencies if a raid was in the offing over the last two days, at least since Sunday when both sides exchanged fire just before the India-Pakistan ODI here. It is also entirely possible that Tuesday's raid may not be what the warning spoke about.

The MAC warning had said that there was likelihood of a raid on a military post, or planting of mines along the patrol routes of Indian soldiers. The incident, the warning had said, would take place in Mendhar sector.

Inputs had said that the raid or mine laying was part of a coordinated terrorist effort, under Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), to attack the Indian Army. Noticeably, the warning had said that it would be a terrorist action.

However, the raid on the post manned by the 13 Rajputana Rifles unit had all tell-tale signs of an Army operation, according to Army sources. Sources in the intelligence establishment said the operation could be a joint action of the Pakistani Army and terrorists. They have been watching heightened action in the area for the past few days since the Sunday firing.