"Every country has right to protect itself", says Indian FM

"Every country has the right to defend its territorial integrity and it has become difficult to secure such if incidents (terrorist acts) are not adequately addressed, to carry out business as usual and that includes the peace process", Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee was quoted as saying by the New Delhi media.

The Indian FM was quoted making these comments during an interview with NDTV, an Indian news channel, on Tuesday (Dec 2). "India reserved the right to take military action if its territory was under threat", the Indian Foreign Minister further asserted.

"What will be done, time will show and you will come to know," Minister Mujherjee was earlier quoted saying with reporters on the sidelines of the launch of an India-Arab Co-operation Forum.

His comments followed a meeting of India's security cabinet to discuss a strategy after the Mumbai attacks. Meanwhile, senior Indian Foreign Ministry officials gave a briefing to envoys of 12 countries, citizens of which were killed in the Mumbai attacks.