India will fight on its soil as well as foreign territory, says NSA Ajit Doval

(Karachi) In a threatening statement, India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has said that India will fight not only on its own territory but also on foreign soil which becomes the source of a security threat, The Times of India reported on Monday.

Doval's remarks came after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat talked about China "encroaching" on Indian soil. The comments are being read as a warning to China over military standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

He made the strong statement while addressing the Parmarth Niketan Ashram in the city of Rishikesh.

The NSA said, "We never became aggressors to serve our personal interests. We will surely fight, on our soil as well as on foreign soil, but not for our personal interests.”

"Ours is a civilization state. It is not based on any religion, language or sect. What cannot be seen, what is the foundation of this nation… is its culture," he added.

"It is not necessary that we only fight where you want to. India will take the battle to where the threat originates,” the Doval stated.

He added that while India has never attacked anyone first, the new strategic thinking holds that perhaps we could have acted proactively to nip security threats. "There are views about it, that if there was danger from somewhere, we should have done it. To save the country is essential. But that we will fight only where you want to fight is not necessary,” the India's national security advisor said.

Earlier, China's President Xi Jinping issued a subtle warning to India over deteriorating Sino-Indian relations. He stated that China must "adhere to a bottom-line mentality," referring to Beijing's unwavering territorial claims near its border with India, and "comprehensively strengthen the training and preparation of troops" to handle complex situations effectively.

He said that the PLA would safeguard national sovereignty, security, development interests, and maintain the overall strategic stability of the country.