Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said here on Wednesday that anyone infiltrating into the country would be neutralised, and said clear instructions had been given to the Army to do so.

“A terrorist who comes with a gun cannot be lectured on human rights … My message is very clear, neutralise terrorists without fear but take precaution that there is no collateral damage,” Mr. Parrikar said at a conclave organised by TV channel Aaj Tak.

Mr. Parrikar stressed that loss of life on the side of security forces was not acceptable. “I will stand by the Army at any cost.”

On the response to 26/11-like attacks in future, Mr. Parrikar said the idea was to make sure such incidents did not happen in the first place. “Irrespective of which country it is, proactive measures are being taken to thwart such attempts which include pressure tactics.”

“You have to neutralise terrorists through terrorists only. Why can’t we do it,” he said. Using the Hindi phrase kante se kanta nikalna (removing a thorn with a thorn), he asked why soldiers should bleed all the time.

To a recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor-General on ammunition shortage, he said the situation had improved now. “Last year alone, the production of arms and ammunition was 18 per cent more than what it was earlier.”