New Delhi, Jan 15 : Army chief General Deepak Kapoor today described the Mumbai attacks as a test of India''s patience.

Addressing a function at the Army Day parade here, General Kapoor described terrorism as the biggest challenge before the country.

"Terrorism is the only biggest challenge before us and the menace has engulfed the entire world. But India has been grappling with it for long. The recent Mumbai attacks were a test of India''s patience," said General Kapoor.

The Army Chief further said that India stands for peace, but would not hesitate to defend its territorial integrity with all of its resources.

"India wants to solve all issues peacefully and through talks. But it would not hesitate to use the resources available with it to save its territorial integrity and ensure the safety of its citizens," said General Kapoor.

On Wednesday, General Kapoor told media persons that India had all its options open, and the military option would be the last in bringing the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks to justice.

India and Pakistan have stepped up vigilance on either side of the border with bilateral relations coming under strain in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks, but both countries have ruled out the possibility of a war.

Earlier, Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram told the Times that India plans to break off business, transport and tourist links with Pakistan and isolate it from the rest of the world if it fails to help to investigate the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

Chidambaram accused Pakistan of doing nothing to assist India bring to justice the perpetrators of the attacks.

Asked what Pakistan was doing to help with the investigation, in which India handed over a dossier of evidence to its neighbour last week, Chidambaram said: "Zero. What have they provided? Nothing."

"There are many, many links between India and Pakistan, and if Pakistan does not co-operate and does not help to bring the perpetrators to heel, those ties will become weaker and weaker and one day snap," he said.

India presented a dossier of material to Pakistan last week, which included a confession from Ajmal Kasab, the lone militant caught alive, details of communications links with "elements in Pakistan", and data retrieved from GPS and satellite phones.

New Delhi wants Islamabad to investigate fully the leads in the dossier and help to bring those responsible for planning and coordinating the attacks to justice and accuses Pakistan of adopting a delaying tactics in this regard. (ANI)