India begins to implement CBMs

Taking no notice of Islamabad's mealymouthed response to India's 12 confidence building measures as part of the peace offering made to Pakistan, an Indian spokesman said India had begun to implement some of these measures.

The Delhi Transport Corporation chairman wrote to the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation for running of additional buses in convoy on already agreed days on the Delhi-Lahore-Delhi route.

In addition, instructions have been issued to immigration authorities to allow elder citizens to cross the Wagah border check-point on foot. Free medical treatment to the second lot of 20 Pak children was also opened up.

At the same time, New Delhi termed "unfortunate and not in keeping with the spirit of the peace efforts" the remarks of Pakistan foreign office spokesman yesterday that the new peace initiative was "rehash and recycle" of offers made by Islamabad earlier.

"We hope that Pakistan's response to our proposals will be constructive in substance and less "robust in tone and vocabulary," the spokesman said.