'Want peace, but will give befitting reply to terrorists'

Following the terror strike in Pathankot, reactions poured in from across the spectrum.

“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 country is proud of our security forces and our jawans.”

-- Home Minister Rajnath Singh

“Here’s the first major challenge to the PM Modi’s bold Pakistan gambit. The BJP now has to sidestep its previous “terror & talks can’t go together” and insulate the Indo-Pak dialogue from such attacks.”

-- Former Jammu-Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah

“Will the prime minister take up the issue with Pakistan, now that he has recently visited the country. How does the government propose to control and check the terror coming from Pakistan. These are important issues that the PM needs to address. Why is Punjab suddenly becoming a hotbed of such activities?

Why have there been two terror attacks in Punjab, a state that has not seen any terror activities in over 20 years. Even the third attack in Udhampur in Jammu-Kashmir was on the border of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. The first (attack in Punjab) was in Dinanagar in Gurdaspur and now in Panthankot, where our frontline security installation is located.”

-- Congress spokesperson RS Surjewala

“Whenever there is a terrorist attack on India, then there is no need to search for the culprit or find out which country they belong to. We can close our eyes and say that Pakistan is responsible. This attack is a matter of great concern as it was on a sensitive area. What happened today is what we feared for so long. The Shiv Sena has reiterated time and again that dialogue with Pakistan and terrorism can’t go together and now peace talks are happening. The prime minister suddenly went to Lahore and it felt like the situation would get better, but it didn't.”

-- Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut

“It is a clear attempt by rogue elements in Pakistan to subvert and sabotage the peace process between the two countries (India and Pakistan) which must not be allowed at any cost. It is the responsibility of the Pakistan government to identify such elements and deal with them with a firm hand.

We can’t allow our people, soldiers and police personnel to be killed by the militants from across the border and Pakistan needs to own up responsibility and deal with such elements firmly.”

-- Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh

“We think this particular act of terror is aimed at defeating the talks and ties between India and Pakistan. But at the same time, we believe that sincere talks and ties between India and Pakistan will defeat terror and violence between the two countries. Talks will influence terror, terror cannot influence the talks.”

-- People’s Democratic Party leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Para

“It (Pathankot attack) is basically done to scuttle the peace process initiated by India. We know that the militant organisation as well as the Pakistan Army is opposed to these talks, they don’t want the relationship to improve between both the nations.

It is a very sad incident; it should be condemned by the international community not just India and Pakistan. As international community has the responsibility to stop this menace which is coming from Pakistan.”

-- Defence expert Qamar Agha