ISLAMABAD, 24 November 2003 — In a fresh attempt at improving relations with India, Pakistan has declared a unilateral cease-fire on the Line of Control, the de facto border that divides the Himalayan region of Kashmir between the South Asian nuclear rivals.

In a televised address marking his first year in office, Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali said Pakistan Army had been ordered to stop firing from the day of Eid Al-Fitr that falls tomorrow or Wednesday in Pakistan depending on the sighting of the moon.

“Our troops deployed along the Line of Control have been ordered to display complete cease-fire from the day of Eid. I expect India will make a positive response to our announcement because without this our step will be incomplete,” Jamali said.

The prime minister invited India to hold talks in Pakistan on restoring bus service between the capitals of Pakistani and Indian Kashmir — Muzaffarabad and Srinagar — and supported the restoration of air links between Pakistan and India. Pakistan was also ready for talks on launching a ferry service between the southern city Karachi and India’s western city of Bombay, he said.

In New Delhi, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna had no immediate comment.

Jamali said that a summit of South Asian leaders to be held in Pakistan’s capital in January could open a new chapter in regional cooperation.

“We are awaiting Prime Minister (Atal Behari) Vajpayee’s participation in the SAARC summit. We are hopeful that this summit conference in Islamabad will add a new chapter in regional cooperation. Pakistan desires peace with India,” he said.

“We can change the atmosphere of confrontation with a strong political determination. We are aware that there are a lot of hardships and testing phases but we think such steps should be taken which can help restore mutual confidence, so that we can find new ways for a peaceful and just solution of the Kashmir issue,” Jamali said.

India has said that Vajpayee will participate in the summit, but has rejected the possibility of bilateral talks with Pakistani leaders until terrorist attacks in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir stop.

Jamali’s address marked the first anniversary of his taking office on Nov. 23, 2002, as prime minister of a new civilian government.

In August, President Pervez Musharraf suggested in a meeting with visiting Indian politicians that Pakistan and India could negotiate a cease-fire along the Line of Control, as a preliminary step to restarting peace talks.

He also said that India should reduce its forces in its portion of Kashmir.

India quickly dismissed Musharraf’s call for a cease-fire, accusing Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism in Kashmir.