Countries agree sustain ceasefire

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India have agreed to uphold their ceasefire agreements in Kashmir, officials in Islamabad and New Delhi said yesterday, raising hopes for peace in the highly militarised region after years of deadly border clashes.

The understanding reached between the military’s operation commanders came into force during the night, a statement by the Pakistani army said yesterday.

The announcement was received in Islamabad and New Delhi as an important diplomatic step. The two South Asian countries had signed a ceasefire in 2003.

Both nuclear powers have been fighting for control of Kashmir since the former British India gained independence and split into India and Pakistan in 1947.