"We hope you will not mess up with us," military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told a press briefing in the garrison town of Rawalpindi, the second strong message Pakistan has sent to New Delhi in as many days.

Tensions have risen in the days following a suicide attack in Kashmir that killed 41 Indian paramilitaries and was claimed by Islamist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), based in Pakistan.

There have been calls in India for retaliation, but Pakistan -- which denies aiding the militants -- has threatened to respond in kind.

"We don't want to go into war with India but if India initiates any aggression, they will never be able to surprise us," Ghafoor said.

"I want to assure India that we will surprise you," he said. "Let me make it clear that we will defend every inch of our country till the last breath and last bullet".

The military's reaction came a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan authorised the country's armed forces to "respond decisively and comprehensively" to any Indian threat.

The militant group which claimed responsibility for last week's attack is one of several anti-Indian outfits fighting in Kashmir.

Officially outlawed in Pakistan, India nevertheless accuses Pakistan as using the groups as proxies.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars over Kashmir since the territory was divided between them at independence.