Ceasefire can be extended: PM

Hizb to continue attacks

NEW DELHI, Dec 4 — Terming the Islamabad’s offer of restraint along the Line of Control (LoC) positive, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today hinted that the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir could be extended beyond Ramzan with Pakistan’s cooperation.

Talking to newspersons at the reception hosted by the Chief of Naval staff, Admiral Sushil Kumar, at his residence on the occasion of Navy Day, Mr Vajpayee said though Pakistan’s reaction to India’s ceasefire offer was good, it was not sufficient.

To a question on what Pakistan should do now, the Prime Minister said “they know what has to be done. Cross-border terrorism and violence has to stop. They have to adopt a friendly attitude”.

The government is likely to make a detailed statement on the recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow in Parliament.

The statement is likely to welcome Islamabad’s limited statement on India’s offer of ceasefire and is expected to go beyond semantics.

ISLAMABAD: The Hizbul Mujahideen has said here that it will continue guerrilla attacks on the Indian Army unless India accepts three conditions set by the group.

Hizbul Mujahideen spokesman Saleem Hashmi was commenting on Pakistan’s announcement on Saturday of “maximum restraint” along the Line of Control.

The conditions were the inclusion of Pakistan in tripartite talks, reduction of Indian troop presence in the valley and the release of Kashmiri leaders.

Hashmi was unhappy about the ‘hasty’ welcome accorded to the ceasefire announcement by the APHC and recalled that when the Hizb had announced one in September, it was subjected to a storm of criticism by the Hurriyat.