Official sources said during the past two months, BSF jawans and labourers were able to complete fencing over 23 km under the cover of tall sarkanda which grows in abundance on this side of the border.

The sources said vast areas in R.S. Pora, Samba and other sectors had become devoid of sarkanda after it went up in flames.

This was followed by intermittent firing on Indian posts and villages to scare away labourers from the construction site.

He said: “Our target is to complete the fencing by the end of 2003.” But the way the Pakistani troops have been creating hurdles, the completion of the fencing project may be delayed.

SRINAGAR: Fifteen militants, mostly foreign mercenaries, and three policemen were killed as the security forces foiled two infiltration bids and recovered 56 kg of deadly RDX in Jammu and Kashmir since last night, an official spokesman said here today.

Militants shot two police constables near SMHS Hospital in the heavily-guarded Karan Nagar area of downtown Srinagar today, he said. They have been identified as Ali Mohammad and Ghulam Rasool. Policemen of the area reportedly went on the rampage, thrashing pedestrians and damaged shops.

Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba claimed responsibility for the killings, saying that “the constables were involved in anti-militant activities.”

A Lashkar militant, identified as Abu Zubair Kashmiri, was killed in an encounter in the Noorbagh locality of Sopore in Baramula district, a BSF spokesman said.

An unidentified militant was killed in an encounter in Kupwara district yesterday.

The militants kidnapped and later shot and wounded Manzoor Ahmad Bukhari at Shalbagh last evening.

A Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed and an Army jawan injured in a mine blast at Udhianpur, nearly 185 km from here today, the police said.

“Both sides are aware of each other’s priorities and sensitivities. By adopting a positive approach, we can avoid any problem of this kind,” Mr Qazi said in the Talk Back programme for Doordarshan.

The statement came a day after Gen Musharraf rebuked a fundamentalist clergy in Pakistan for making “irresponsible” statements against India. Mr Qazi was specifically asked whether a meeting between the Hurriyat and Gen Musharraf was expected on the sidelines of the summit meeting.

“Both sides want it to be a successful visit,” he said, adding that Islamabad was looking forward to a “comprehensive, meaningful and result-oriented dialogue that addressed the concerns of both the countries. And help relations move forward.”

Mr Qazi said dates for the visit and duration of Gen Musharraf’s stay are yet to be finalised. He indicated that Gen Musharraf’s delegation will comprise of several ministers who will have parleys with their Indian counterparts.

The Pakistan military leader is expected to call on President K.R. Narayanan and meet political leaders and eminent personalities. Mr Qazi said there was no formal agenda for the Vajpayee-Musharraf summit. He, however, warned that one should not be “euphoric” expecting dramatic breakthroughs during the visit, but “realistically optimistic.”

The two countries are entering into a much more challenging, much more difficult, but potentially creative phase, Mr Qazi said.

Former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral, who also took part in the discussion, said Gen Musharraf should be received with honour, respect and protocol which the government accords to any head of state, but added in tongue-in-cheek style that Indian service chiefs are unlikely to be absent while receiving Gen Musharraf at the ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.