It is the duty of the government to safeguard the border areas and any unprovoked attack by Pakistan during the holy month of Ramadan despite the decision to suspend anti-militant operations in Indian Kashmir will be responded to, said Indian Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday in New Delhi.

India's Interior Minister Rajnath Singh had ordered security forces to halt cordon and search operations across Kashmir in May during Ramadan.

However, security forces still reserved the right to retaliate in case of direct confrontation or an attack.

The move follows weeks of sporadic violence in the Muslim majority territory at the heart of decades of hostility between India and Pakistan, both of which claim the region in full but rule in part. More than 130 people have been killed this year in militant violence so far.

On the other hand, Pakistan also continued to violate ceasefire which has led to death of many civilians as well as Indian soldiers and injuring several others. 

To counter the prevailing border firing and subsequent troubling of civilians, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan had met and had decided to follow the ceasefire pact of 2003. When asked if the DGMO meet was a step forward to peace talks, Sitharaman reaffirmed the government's stance that terror and talks can't go together.

Sitharaman also assured the people of the country that there was no scandal involved in the French Rafale fighter jet deal.

India had a signed a deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France for around $8.7 billion, the country's first major acquisition of combat planes in two decades and a boost for Modi's plan to rebuild an ageing fleet. 

However, President of India's main opposition Congress party, Rahul Gandhi accuses the Modi-led federal government of negotiating an overpriced deal in the purchase of the jets from France-based Dassault Aviation.