NEW DELHI, July 11: A pattern of angry exchanges is discernible between India and Pakistan over the separate yet related theatres of violence in Kashmir and Afghanistan. India’s Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor was quoted on Friday as adding his voice to widespread speculation here that Pakistan’s ISI spy agency was somehow involved in the Kabul attack on New Delhi’s embassy.

On Friday, an Indian foreign ministry spokesman reacted angrily to Islamabad’s recent comments on the human rights situation in Kashmir. He accused Pakistan of interference in New Delhi’s internal affairs.

In a somewhat delayed response to the statement by Pakistan’s foreign ministry of July 5, in which it had criticised recent human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir, including use of force against demonstrators, which injured resistance leader Shabbir Shah, an Indian foreign ministry spokesman told Islamabad not to vitiate the atmosphere between the two countries.

“We have seen the Press Release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Pakistan on July 5, commenting gratuitously on a demonstration in Srinagar in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir,” the Indian spokesman said.

“The statement constitutes gross interference in the internal affairs of India. GOP spokesmen should refrain from vitiating the atmosphere by such remarks.” Incidentally, both the spokesmen took the caution of clarifying that they were responding to media questions to explain their respective responses. Meanwhile, quoting Gen Kapoor, the Times of India said the “resurgent Taliban-ISI combine” could be behind the attack on the Indian embassy.

The possibility of ISI being involved in the ‘’well-planned and pre-meditated’’ suicide bombing on the Indian mission could not be ruled out, Gen Kapoor was quoted as saying at a function here on Thursday.

‘’Obviously, it was the work of elements inimical to India’s interests. We all should be able to make out who would be inimical to our interests in Kabul and our embassy there,’’ the army chief said.