Pak says India steps up cross-border fire

Pakistan reacted with caution, on Tuesday, to a statement by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee that spurred hopes
of averting war between the two countries archfoes, but said firing by Indian forces increased in Kashmir.

''There is a slight incease, not only in frequency but also in
intensity,'' Maj Gen Qureshi said of the Indian attacks.

Major-general Rashid Qureshi, spokesman for military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, told a news agency Pakistan's foreign ministry was ''evaluating'' Mr Vajpayee's comments -- in which he said he did not expect war and that diplomatic efforts to resolve tension between the two countries were yielding progress.

Bureau Report