Putin hails ceasefire

By C. Raja Mohan

NEW DELHI, NOV.27. The Russian Federation tonight welcomed the unilateral Indian ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that Pakistan and the militants would respond positively to the initiative.

In a telephone call late this evening to the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, strongly supported the ceasefire decision during the Ramzan period.

Highly placed sources in the PMO said Mr. Putin hoped that the Indian move ``will get a favourable response from all concerned.''

Mr. Putin recalled his recent visit to India and said his Government was looking forward to Mr. Vajpayee's visit to Russia in the near future.

The Russian support is part of the broad international endorsement of the Indian call for a halt to violence and the resumption of negotiations to bring peace to the troubled State.

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