But late tonight, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, in his address on the eve of the country’s independence day, again referred to the situation in Kashmir, saying Pakistan shared the grief of the families of those killed in the Valley.

Earlier today, in a language reminiscent of the bitter past, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Sadiq called upon the international community, in particular “United Nations, Organisation of the Islamic Conference and Human Rights organisations, to take notice of the gross violation of human rights of Kashmiri people, unwarranted violence against them and their economic blockade perpetrated by extremist elements and impress upon India to observe restrain and rein in the extremist elements that are seeking economic destruction of the Kashmiri people.”

In New Delhi, Navtej Sarna, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, hit back, saying “the Government of India finds deeply objectionable the series of remarks by the official spokesman and leaders in Pakistan on recent events in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.”

“We are witnessing a recurrence of Pakistani rhetoric and allegations that are factually wrong and that bear no relationship to reality. To call for international involvement in the sovereign internal affairs of India is gratuitous, illegal and only reflects reversion to a mindset that has led to no good consequences for Pakistan in the past.”

“It is not too late for Pakistani leaders and spokesmen to desist from the course of action that they have recently embarked upon, and we would urge them to do so forthwith,” Sarna said.