India will respond to attacks at a place and time of its choice: Parrikar

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, flanked by Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha (R) and Army Chief Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag (L), arrives for a media briefing regarding the military operations at Pathankot airbase.

Adding further belligerence to the Government’s stand in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said India would respond to attacks on the country at a time and place of its choosing.

Mr. Parrikar said, “I always believe that anyone who harms you, he understand the same language. How, where and the place should be of your choice.” He was speaking on Monday at a seminar on indigenisation organised by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies.

“If someone is attacking the country, an individual or organisation should also feel the pain of such activity. Until the pain can be transferred they will not understand,” he said.

The attack by six terrorists on Pathankot Air Force station on January 2 has cast a shadow on the peace initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and put a question mark on the Foreign Secretary level talks scheduled for Friday.

India has linked the talks to action by Pakistan on those responsible for which evidence has already been provided.