Pak-India ceasefire holding on: Foreign Office - Vajpayee hopes meeting Jamali one-to-one at Islamabad
(Updated at 2230 PST)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Thursday that the ceasefire along the Line of Control was holding' with no reports of any unpleasant incident. Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan told official news agency here that the ceasefire along the LoC, which went into effect Tuesday midnight following an agreement between India and Pakistan, "was holding, with no unpleasant incident reported."
He said, "We welcome the support given by the international community to Prime Minister Jamali's initiative and the concurrence of Pakistan and India to observe ceasefire."
He especially referred to the supportive statements by the UN Secretary
General, China, the US, the UK, France and Russia all permanent members of the UN Security Council, "Everyone is hoping that this effort will be a harbinger for a sustained peace process," he added.
When asked about the next step, the Spokesman said that the talks in Delhi on December 1 and 2 should help establish air links. He said Prime Minister Jamali in his address of November 23 had said that Pakistan favoured immediate resumption of
air-links between the two countries.
(Updated at 2200 PST)
Lucknow: Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today did not rule out a one-to-one meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Zafarullah Khan Jamali on the sidelines of the upcoming SAARC Summit at Islamabad in January, a news agency reported.
"My itinerary for Pakistan is being prepared. I shall be meeting every one there," Vajpayee told newsmen at an 'Eid-Milan' (Eid gathering) programme on the sprawling lawns of the National Botanical Research Institute here when asked whether he would be meeting Jamali.
When pressed further on whether there would be a one-to-one meeting between him and Jamali, Vajpayee remarked "I shall be happy if Jamali meets me." To another question, he said India had responded "positively" to Pakistan's offer of ceasefire, which was continuing on the borders.
"The matter is being looked into by defence personnel," he said expressing hope that the ceasefire would continue. |
