NEW DELHI: Warning Pakistan yet again that any misadventure by it will be thwarted with a punitive response, Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday said the “surgical strikes” and Balakot air strikes had demonstrated India’s resolve to act against cross-border terrorism.

The Army chief was more sanguine about China, noting that the two armies had developed a good working relationship to sort out tensions arising due to “differing perceptions” about the unresolved Line of Actual Control ( LAC ).

Stressing there was no incursion by People’s Liberation Army soldiers at Demchok in eastern Ladakh last week, when China objected to some Tibetans and villagers celebrating the Dalai Lama’s birthday close to the LAC, Gen Rawat said the matter was resolved with a flag meeting between local commanders.

But Pakistan repeatedly resorts to state-sponsored terrorism, with the help of non-state actors, against India. “We are working in a coordinated manner for a cogent and synchronised national response against sub-conventional and asymmetric threats by any adversary,” said Gen Rawat, at a seminar on “20 Years after Kargil Conflict” here.

“The surgical strikes post Uri and in Balakot have amply demonstrated our political and military resolve against terror. The Indian armed forces stand resolute and ready to defend our territorial integrity. Let there be no doubt that misadventures will be repelled with a punitive response,” he added.

Conflicts in the future will be “more violent”, “unpredictable” and asymmetric in nature, with high-tech, space and cyberspace playing a greater role, said Gen Rawat, adding that the recent setting up of tri-service agencies to handle space and cyberspace as well as the Special Operations Division were indicative of the way the armed forces were transforming themselves.

General V P Malik (retd), who was the Army chief during the Kargil conflict, said India should not go back to its earlier defensive strategy. “We may need to do a Balakot time and again to send the message of deterrence... Be prepared to launch an offensive across the LoC at short notice,” he said.

