Srinagar: Five Indian Army commandos crossed the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and killed three Pakistani soldiers on Christmas Day to avenge the killing of four Indian soldiers last week, Indian defence sources said.

Pakistan confirmed the death of three of its soldiers but insisted that they died in cross-border firing and that no Indian commando had crossed the LoC.

An Indian Army officer called the operation a "tit-for-tat" attack and "selective targeting across the LoC".

Indian sources said Monday's operation could not be compared to last year's "surgical strikes" because of its smaller size and limited aim.

Indian sources described the operation as a "tactical strike" in what Pakistan calls the Rukh Chakri sector in Rawlakot. The operation was launched at 6pm on Monday and went on for 45 minutes, 200 to 300 metres inside Pakistan-held territory, the Indian sources said.

A temporary post of the Pakistani army was smashed, they said, adding that the commandos returned safely.

On Saturday, four Indian soldiers, including a major, were killed in a suspected Pakistani operation.