Vodafone Group reportedly said it remains committed to India and still enjoys a “constructive” relationship with the government, despite hitting out over an ongoing tax row in the country earlier this week.

Vodafone reacted strongly to threats from the country’s tax department to seize assets after it served the operator with a reminder notice over an outstanding INR142 billion ($2.03 billion) tax bill, an issue dating back to 2007.

With the dispute however still under arbitration, Vodafone was taken by surprise by the notice, stating that there “seems a complete disconnect between the government and the tax department”.

The company is however now seemingly playing down its comments, insisting the statement was “made in response to questions from Indian and global media surprised – as we were – that the Indian tax department appeared to be threatening asset seizures in cases subject to international arbitration, and this had been made public”.

“Vodafone is a committed long term investor in India, and in that regard, enjoys a positive and constructive relationship with the Indian government,” said a company spokesperson, reports Economic Times.

The company has reportedly still not replied to the tax notice, while the Tax department has also looked to played down the issue, claiming the reminder “was part of a normal process”.

The INR142 billion capital gains dispute is the largest of three outstanding tax cases Vodafone is fighting in India.