NEW DELHI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- In a stern message to Pakistan, Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat has said that New Delhi has the "right to retaliate" if Islamabad rejects its peace overtures.

"We have told the adversary to accept peace and in case that offer is not reciprocated, then this method of operations (surgical strikes) shall continue. The aim is to ensure peace and tranquillity and it (surgical strike) shall not be needed if there is peace," the Army chief said at his first media meet on Friday, after taking over the reins of the Indian army on Dec. 31.

The Indian Army had, some months back, claimed to have carried out surgical strikes across the border in Pakistan in the wake of militant attacks on one of its camps in Indian-controlled Kashmir's Uri sector, in which nearly 20 soldiers were killed.

Kashmir has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan and both the countries have fought at least three major wars over the disputed territory in the past 65 years.

India has blamed Pakistan for almost all major terror attacks in Kashmir, a claim mostly rejected by Islamabad.