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India should not pull back
troops from LoC: Abdullah

"We are not in a position to verify whether Pakistan has actually partially withdrawn its forces from the LoC as pull out of troops from mountainous terrain cannot not take place in one day," he said, adding New Delhi should not make any move that could jeopardise the country's security interests.

Abdullah was talking to reporters after attending a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister L K Advani, the first since Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's announcement of a month-long extension of the ceasefire in J&K on Wednesday.

Asked about the possibility of resumption of stalled Indo-Pak talks, Abdullah said efforts were on to create a conducive atmosphere but attacks against security forces and killings of civilians by Pakistan-backed terrorists were a hindrance.

"There has been a good beginning with the exchange of fire along the LoC coming down drastically. I am all for the return of long-awaited peace in the state but Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence is directly involved in the killings, which are continuing," he said.

Replying to questions, he said the meeting discussed various issues to make extension of the ceasefire 'successful'.

AFP adds from Islamabad:
Pakistan on Thursday welcomed the 'positive' signals from India on Kashmir but said they fell short of a clear response to Islamabad's call for meaningful dialogue.

Foreign Office spokesman Riaz Mohammad Khan said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's announcement an extension of New Delhi's ceasefire in J&K had a 'positive tone'.

"Yet it falls short of a clear response to Pakistan's initiatives that may justify optimism for an early start of a meaningful negotiating process on the Kashmir issue," he said.

Meanwhile, a report on Thursday said that Pakistan-based militant groups rejected India's extended ceasefire in J&K and vowed to continue their 'struggle'.

"It is a political gimmick and the mujahideen have nothing to do with it," Harkat-ul-mujahideen chief Moulana Farooq Kashmir said.

ALSO SEE
Hurriyat to send high level delegation to Pak
Abdullah questions Hurriyat credentials

EARLIER REPORT
Government announces ceasefire in J&K
Jihad council rejects cease-fire offer: PTI

COMPLETE COVERAGE
Government initiated ceasefire in J&K

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