New Delhi: Referring Pakistan as a ‘terror export factory’ saying that the 2016 surgical strikes were aimed at sending an unequivocal message to the neighbouring country, Prime Minister NarendraModi tore into Pakistan in no uncertain terms.

"We believe in peace. But we will not tolerate those who like to export terror. We will give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Terrorism will never be accepted," he said at the 'Bharat kiBaat, SabkeSaath' diaspora event in London.

"When someone has put a terror export factory in place, attacks my people, has no power to fight a war so attempts to attack behind the back... in such a case Modi knows how give a reply in the same language," said the PM, to which the audience raised slogans of 'Bharat Mata ki jai'.

Modi revealed that before making the news of the surgical strikes public, India had repeatedly attempted to contact Pakistan government to inform them about the top-secret operation conducted by the Indian forces.

"I said before India gets to know, we should call Pakistan and tell them what we did so they can come and collect the dead bodies if they have time. We were calling them since 11am but they were scared to answer the phone. At 12 we spoke to them and then told the Indian media," he elaborated.

The Prime Minister expressed his pride in the Army as they executed the surgical strikes with perfection and returned after finishing the task before dawn.

Indians have stopped settling for "incremental change" and are becoming more and more aspirational under the BJP-led government, said the Prime Minister, and this transformation happened because people know the Modi government can deliver.

"People know that when they say something, the government will listen and do it. Days of incremental change are over," PM Modi said during the town hall-style gathering at the iconic Central Hall Westminster.