NEW DELHI: Snubbing Pakistan yet again, India on Sunday rejected Islamabad’s offer to send relief material to people of the violence-hit Kashmir valley.
“India and others in the region have already received enough of Pakistan’s trademark exports - international terrorism, cross-border infiltrators, weapons, narcotics and fake currency,” MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. New Delhi’s sharp reaction came in response to a communication from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry proposing to send supplies to Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. The External Affairs Ministry “completely and categorically” rejected the communication from Pakistan.“A communication was apparently delivered to our High Commission in Islamabad on August 12. I can only characterise its contents that propose sending supplies to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir as absurd,” Vikas Swarup added.
In another development, the government launched an attack on Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s remark on Kashmir’s freedom. “The only outstanding issue is how to liberate parts of J&K under illegal occupation of Islamabad.” Abdul Basit, during the celebration of Pakistan’s Independence Day at its high commission in New Delhi, made provocative statements on Kashmir saying his country will continue to extend full diplomatic, political and moral support to the people of the state. “As far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, we are dedicating this year’s Independence Day to the freedom of Kashmir. And we firmly believe that the sacrifices made by the people of Jammu and Kashmir will not go in vain,” he said.
Jitendra Singh, junior minister at the Prime Minister’s Office reacted to Basit’s comment, saying, “Our stand is very clear in the context of the J&K issue. If at all there is any outstanding issue with Pakistan, it is only on ways to liberate parts of the state which remain under the illegal occupation of Islamabad and make them a part of the Union of India,” Singh said.
India’s reaction came on a day when Pakistani forces violated the ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.