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Respect LoC to 'avoid costly escalation'

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has told his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharief that status quo ante must be restored along the Line of Control in Kargil area ''if a costly escalation of the conflict is to be avoided''.

During his telephone conversation with Sharief last evening, Vajpayee reiterated India's desire to continue the Lahore dialogue process but stressed that it would be possible only if Islamabad genuinely respected the sanctity of the LoC and the Simla agreement, official sources in Srinagar said.

Vajpayee pointed out that, under the Simla agreement, India and Pakistan had undertaken not to violate the LoC. ''We have adhered unfailingly to this obligation,'' he said.

He told Sharief that he expected Pakistan to do likewise.

Sharief had called up Vajpayee in an effort to prevent south Asia from ''descending into chaos and conflagration''.

UNI

The Kargil Crisis

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