Predictable reaction by Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, FEB. 21 There is no surprise element in Pakistan's reaction to the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Security to extend the Kashmir ceasefire. The military establishment has been a bit low-key in its response only because New Delhi has not made any formal announcement in this regard.

The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson tonight said that by not acting on the request of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference delegation for travel documents to Pakistan, the Vajpayee Government had not only ensured that there was no progress on the peace process but also demonstrated its `insincerity' on the whole initiative.

In the absence of concrete follow-up measures towards resumption of dialogue, the cease-fire would be yet another fruitless exercise. ``It appears the cease-fire is an end in itself to New Delhi while we look at it as a means towards the end of resolution of the Kashmir dispute'', a senior official said.

Lashkar reaction

The Pakistan-based militant outfit, the Lashkar-e-Taiba, rejected it as a `fraud' and vowed to continue its operations against the Indian military and Government establishments in Kashmir.

The Lashkar spokesperson, Mr. Yahya Mujahid, told The Hindu over phone from Lahore that ``we firmly believe that India announced the so-called ceasefire only to mislead the world community. We declare that we will continue to target the Indian Army and military installations. There is no change in our stand''.

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