Search the Internet          Tips

Centre extends J&K ceasefire for another month

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

The Atal Bihari Vajpayee government decided unanimously on Tuesday to extend the ceasefire instituted in Jammu & Kashmir at the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan for a further period of one month, till February 26.

Briefing reporters outside the prime minister's 7 Race Course Road residence after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said, "It is regrettable that Pakistan has not recognised the prime minister's peace initiatives in J&K and continues to promote cross-border terrorism."

He said the government believes violence in the state must end, but the CCS unanimously decided to extend the ceasefire, which was to expire on Republic Day, to give some more time for the peace initiative to succeed.

Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, Jaswant Singh, Defence Minister George Fernandes and Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha attended the CCS meeting.

Among the senior officials present were National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, who is also the prime minister's principal secretary, Home Secretary Kamal Pandey and Chief of Army Staff General S Padmanabhan.

The Government's Ceasefire: The complete coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report