On the eve of Independence Day as Pakistan "greeted" India with unprovoked firing on border areas and further attacking its sensibility by offering to send supplies in the embattled Kashmir Valley on Sunday, New Delhi mocked at the "absurd" offer and went on to say that it along with other nations in the region have enough of Islamabad's "trademark exports", including "cross-border infiltrators, weapons... and fake currency."
The External Affairs Ministry "completely and categorically" rejected a note verbale from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry in this regard.
"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 Jammu & Kashmir as absurd," said External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup.
"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," he said.
India's reaction came on a day when Pakistani forces violated the ceasefire along the loC in Poonch district of J&K in the wee hours of Sunday and pounded several forward Indian posts and civilians areas using high calibre weapons.
Panic-stricken local villagers ran for cover to escape the heavy shelling from the Pakistani side as they came in the direct line of fire.
In response to the "unprovoked" firing on the civilian pockets, the Indian troops responded effectively using similar calibre weapons.
The foot soldiers of the Indian Army were maintaining tight vigil in the area to foil any major infiltration bid by heavily armed militants in the run up to the Independence Day celebrations. A 50-year-old woman, identified as Qasam Jahan of village Kasba, was critically injured in the unprovoked firing.
Earlier in the day while celebrating Pakistan's Independence day at its High Commission here, Pakistani High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit made provocative statements over Kashmir and said his country will continue to extend full diplomatic, political and moral support to the people of the State. He went on to say, "As far as Jammu & 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 & Kashmir will not go in vain."
In Islamabad, President Mamnoon Hussain, while addressing a gathering at a flag hoisting ceremony, also raised the Kashmir issue, saying the country will continue to support Kashmiris in their bid for the right to self-determination.
Strongly reacting to Pakistan High Commissioner's remark on Kashmir, Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh said, "Our stand is very clear in the context of J&K issue. If at all there is any outstanding issue with Pakistan it is how to liberate the part of J&K which remains under illegal occupation of Islamabad after 60-65 years of Independence and make it a part of J&K and part of the Indian Union."
India has been objecting to Islamabad's recent attempt to fish in troubled waters and raising the K-issue prompting New Delhi to re-assert its claim on POK and evoking of human rights issue there as well as in parts of Balochistan.