Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said India had never attacked any country, nor had it captured any inch of foreign land but if anyone tried to harm its sovereignty, the country would give a befitting reply.

Singh, however, did not name China whose army has opened several fronts since April 2020 in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and is estimated to have taken over nearly 1,000sqkm of India-claimed territory.

“India has never attacked any country, nor has it captured an inch of foreign land, but if anyone ever tries to harm the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the nation, a befitting reply will be given,” the defence minister said at a function in Rajasthan.

The Indian and Chinese armies have been locked in a border standoff in Ladakh since May 2020. There has been “partial” disengagement.