ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: Pakistan’s troops deployed along the Line of Control would positively respond to the appeal made by the United Nations Military Observer Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to observe a ceasefire, despite provocation from India, the Foreign Office said on Friday.

The UNMOGIP has appealed to the parties involved in the Kashmir dispute to observe the International Day of Peace on Sunday.

A Foreign Office statement said: “Pakistani troops deployed on the LoC, despite provocation from the Indian side, would respond positively to the UNMOGIP’s appeal in letter and spirit.” The appeal calls upon the parties “to initiate a ceasefire and do their best to prolong duration of any cessation of hostilities for as long as possible.”

The UNMOGIP’s appeal was similar to the one by President Gen Pervez Musharraf to India for observance of ceasefire along the LoC in Kashmir, the statement said.

“Unfortunately India rejected the president’s ceasefire proposal as it has negatively reacted to the UNMOGIP’s appeal,” the statement said. “The extremely negative reaction by India to a most reasonable proposal by the UNMOGIP reflects India’s reluctance to seek a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute and a manifestation of its policy to suppress the legitimate Kashmiri struggle with brute force,” it added.—APP