India does not support a war but its soldiers are ready to give a befitting reply if any ‘superpower’ hurts the country's pride, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday amid the eight-month-long border standoff with China in Eastern Ladakh.

Addressing an event to mark the fifth Armed Forces Veterans’ Day at the Headquarters Training Command of the Indian Air Force in Bengaluru, Singh said, “We don’t want war and we are in favour of protecting everyone's security but I want to say this in clear terms that if any superpower wants to hurt our pride then our soldiers are capable of giving them a befitting reply.”

The Defence minister insisted that India never wanted conflict with any nation and preferred to maintain peace and friendly ties with its neighbours.

“It always wanted peace and friendly ties with its neighbours because it's in our blood and culture,” he said.

Referring to the standoff with China, he said the Indian soldiers displayed exemplary courage and patience and if that can be narrated then every Indian will feel proud.

Singh hailed the Indian soldiers who showed extraordinary courage in “eliminating terrorists on the Pakistan soil”.

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat was also present.