This came in the backdrop of a meeting, also hastily arranged, between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan at Attari, near the Wagha border, this afternoon. Sources said both sides agreed on a ``disengagement'' to facilitate the withdrawal, which is to take place in a phased manner from each sub-sector in Kargil. Army HQ in Delhi, however, was unwilling to issue an official statement on the outcome of this meeting.

The Government, on the other hand, is hopeful that the withdrawal would be completed in about seven days. It has viewed the Pakistani move as a major victory for both the Indian Armed forces and its diplomacy insuccessfully pinning down Pakistan. Military commanders, sharing the opinion, point out that recentness air strikes by the Air Force, quick gains by ground troops and heavy casualties had left the intruders and Pakistan with no other option.

National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra told media-persons that there is ``some evidence of the withdrawal already taking place in Kaksar and Mushkoh Valley sub-sectors of the Kargil region.'' But with a tinge of caution, he added that the Army needed to verify the development.

Additional DGMO Major General J.J. Singh was equally cautious, saying: ``We have noticed some movements (by the intruders in the Kargil Sector), which can be construed as thinning.'' He also said that during the past 24 hours the intensity of fighting from the infiltrators has reduced in some areas, including Kaksar and Mushkoh Valley.

About the course of events leading to the meeting of the two DGMOs, Maj Gen Singh said it was held at ``the initiative of the Pakistani side'' and startedaround 1.30 p.m., going on for the next 140 minutes. He added: ``They (Pakistan) took the initiative for the meeting, it should be fairly easy to deduce the motive behind the talks.''

Maj Gen Singh, however, refused to confirm whether the two DGMOs had agreed on a ceasefire. Instead, he emphasised that military operations will continue``till the last of the intruders is evicted or surrenders''. In the same breath, he added that troops are rapidly moving forward in Mushkoh Valley and Kaksar areas. Sources added that there has been a lull in the exchange of artillery fire between both sides since this morning, though hand-to-hand gun battles are going on in some pockets of intrusion.

The Air Force has also not carried out any air strikes since yesterday afternoon. Group Captain D.N. Ganesh, joint director of operations, confirmed this saying that a late-afternoon strike planned yesterday by a mixed force of eight Mig-23s and Mig-27s was cancelled, ``due to the rapid forward movement of the Indian troops''.He added: ``In the past 24 hours an increasing number of our air strikes have been called off, after requests from the Army, for similar reasons.''

Most of the participants in the meeting convened by Vajpayee -- including the Congress president Sonia Gandhi -- hailed the development regarding the withdrawal. But some, such as the CPI(M), cautioned the Government not to go in for premature celebrations. The country, Vajpayee was told in the meeting, should be chary of the ``real meaning'' of the Pakistan-United States talks that has triggered Pakistani withdrawal from the Indian side of the LoC.

Meanwhile, Maj Gen Singh, in an official briefing, also announced -- ``as directed by Army Chief V.P. Malik'' -- that the Indian troops have now established full control over the Drass and Batalik sub-sectors, barring two heights which are on the LoC. ``These heights can be tackled only from a direction which involves crossing the LoC. But for the present we do not propose crossing the LoC.''

At least 333 Armypersonnel, including 25 officers, have lost their lives in the over-two-month long Operation Vijay so far. Another 520 men, including 34 officers, have been injured and 15 others, including two officers, are missing in action. On the Pakistan side, 679 Army soldiers have been killed.

In yesterday's fighting, troops from the Grenadiers recaptured Rocky Nobb in the Mushkoh Valley after killing three Pakistani soldiers, and are attempting to regain Marpo La peak. Another 15 on the LoC were killed by artillery fire. Five Indian soldiers were also killed in these operations. Troops also recovered the bodies of Major Iqbal and Captain Kamal Sheikh of Pakistan's 12 Northern Light Infantry and Lieutenant Imtiaz Sheikh of 165 Mortar Regiment of the Pakistan Army. The bodies were buried in accordance with military customs.