New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS): Nine days after terrorists believed to be from Pakistan attacked an IAF base, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Monday that pain must be inflicted on those who hurt India.

Addressing a seminar here, the minister talked about the "enemy": "Unless pain can be transmitted to them, they will always end up giving pain to us. I am pained when my soldier dies."

But Parrikar stressed this was his view and should not be taken as the view of the Narendra Modi government.

"How, when and where (to inflict pain) should be of your choice," he went on. 

"But if someone is harming the country, I think the particular individual or organisation should receive the pain of such activity." 

The seminar was on the Indigenization of the Indian Army in a Futuristic Context, held at the Manekshaw Centre here.

Parrikar's comments followed the January 2 terrorist attack on the Indian Air Force camp at Pathankot in Punjab which left seven security personnel dead.

Security forces killed all six terrorists who are believed to be Pakistanis who sneaked into Punjab.

The minister also said soldiers should aim at neutralising the enemy and "our own casualties should be minimal.

"The aim should be taking life, not giving. Sacrifice is respected... But what nation needs is that you neutralise your enemy, the nation's enemy," he added.

India says it has provided "actionable evidence" to Pakistan to act against those who masterminded the Pathankot attack.