New Delhi, Dec 31 (IANS): India should not hold back in responding to cross border firing by Pakistan and retaliate with "double the force", Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said.

The minister, during an interaction with journalists Tuesday night, said that Indian troops do not violate the ceasefire but only retaliate.

"I would say, don't agitate, react appropriately but without holding yourself back. When something happens, retaliate with double the force," said Parrikar. "If terrorists attack any defence establishment, the instruction is neutralise them without losing any men."

The defence minister' response came as a soldier was injured when Pakistan Tuesday fired at the Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Pallanwalla sector.

Parrikar, however, added that number of cross border firings has reduced along the LoC.

"The number of incidents of cross border firing has come down along LoC . It had increased along the IB (International Border), but even that has gone down in last two months compared to last year," he said.