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Pakistan withdraws some troops from LoC

"Pakistan has unilaterally taken another bold initiative to withdraw part of its forces deployed along the LoC," the statement said. "The move back has already commenced and the troops have started moving toward the cantonments."

Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi had earlier in the day welcomed Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's decision to extend the ceasefire by another month.

"It is a positive step and I welcome it. It is a good thing and we are very pleased. But, it is not for me to give the official response. I am waiting for a response from Islamabad on this," he told reporters at an Iftar hosted by Bharatiya Janata Party president Bangaru Laxman at the party's central office in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Vajpayee, Home Minister L K Advani, HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, other central ministers and party leaders were present on the occasion.

Asked for his views on the prime minister's statement and its implications on Indo-Pak relations, he said, "It (the statement) is relevant for our Indian colleagues to explain what they have in mind. It is not for us to speculate."

Qazi said the past few months had seen good developments on both sides and "In this month of mercy, Insha Allah we hope something will come out of it".

He reiterated Pakistan's stand that it was prepared for talks with India anytime and anywhere. "We have always been for a dialogue. We don't accept any preconditions. We are prepared to be flexible," he said.

Qazi refused to comment on J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's statement expressing dissatisfaction over Pakistan's refusal to back the ceasefire. The latter had said, "If they don't stop the killing, I am not going to stop going after them."

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Government initiated ceasefire in J&K

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