Islamabad: "An agreementon demilitarisation of Siachen appeared 'imminent' with Pakistan assuring India that its forces would notoccupy the glacier if Indian troops pull out from there, "said today (Feb9, 2007).

Pakistan has given anassurance to Indiathrough diplomatic channels that it has no hidden motives and will not make anyattempt to occupy the glacier, The Nation newspaper quoted Pakistani officialsas saying.

"This assurance has been conveyed to India to give way to a breakthroughon the vital issue," it quoted an official as saying.

There was no immediate official confirmation of the report.

Islamabad has told New Delhi that any fears and concerns on itspart that the snowy mountainous region, if vacated by the Indian troops, couldbe captured by the Pakistani troops are unfounded, the unnamed official said.

He said that despite an "imminent breakthrough" an announcement inthis would be made only during the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Pakistan,which was yet to be fixed.

He said that Indiawas likely to come forward to clinch an agreement on demilitarisation ofSiachen Glacier.

India has been insisting on "iron clad" authentication of currenttroop positions of the two countries as it is wary of a repeat of 1999 Kargilexperience when Pakistani troops captured the mountain heights vacated by Indiain winter.

However, Pakistanhas refused to do so on the grounds that it would be tantamount to validatingwhat it calls illegal Indian occupation of glacier in 1984.