Islamabad: Seeking to improve relations with India, Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali tonight (November 23) announced a ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) from Eid day, which is likely on Nov 26, and expected India to respond positively.

In a televised address to the nation marking completion of his first year in office, Jamali said Pakistan Army has already been ordered to stop firing from Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting holy month of Ramadan.

"Our troops deployed along LoC have been ordered to display complete ceasefire from the day of Eid. I expect India will make a positive response to our announcement because without this, our step will be incomplete," he said.

Jamali also responded positively to a number of other peace initiatives recently unveiled by India.

The Pakistan Prime Minister's announcement came less than two months before the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad in January 2004.

PTI