Rajnath Singh said that India wants good and friendly relations with every country, including Pakistan, but any terror attack on India will get a befitting response.
As a group of terrorists launched an attack on Pathankot air base days after India resumed talks with Pakistan, home minister Rajnath Singh said India wants good relations with neighbours but will not tolerate terror attacks.
"Pakistan is our neighbouring country. We want good relations with not just Pakistan but with all our neighbours. We also want peace, but if there is any terror attack on India, we will give a befitting reply," the minister said.
Around 3.30 am on Saturday, a group of suspected Pakistani terrorists attacked the air force base. Four terrorists and three soldiers have died the gun-battle that's still in progress.
The attack comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unscheduled stopover in Pakistan on December 25 on his way home from Afghanistan to wish his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday.
Earlier in December, India had officially resumed dialogue with Pakistan with secret talks between the two national security advisors in Bangkok.
The radical away from media glare had drawn criticism from the opposition and after today's terror attack, the Congress said India should reassess its position on Pakistan.
"Prime Minister Modi just returned from Pakistan after offering a hand of friendship and this is what we get in return," party's Ashwani Kumar said.
Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah tweeted, "That was quick. Here's the first major challenge to the PM Modi's bold Pakistan gambit."
The People's Democratic Party, the BJP's coalition partner in Jammu and Kashmir, said "some elements in Pakistan" want to disturb the peace talks.
"This particular act of terror is meant to defeat talks and ties with Pakistan. Talks can influence terror, but terror cannot influence talks," said party leader Waheed ur Rehman Para.