The confidence building measures the Army hopes to implement with ``sincere Pakistani cooperation'' on the LoC and the Siachen Glacier pertain to better communication links, buffer zones, reduced artillery fire and non-targeting of civilian areas. A meeting of Army commanders, held at the Northern Command headquarters at Udhampur last week, chalked out the confidence building measures for approval by New Delhi.

Defence sources here said the proposals were aimed at ``trimming the responses'' and would be put up before the Army HQs at New Delhi and the Union Ministry of Defence before the two countries formally discuss them.Highly-placed defence sources told The Indian Express that in response to the request of the Pakistani Army that the last rites of itssoldiers be performed, the Indian Army not only assured that this was being done, but also offered to hand over the bodies to the Pakistani pickets across the LoC after a flag meeting is arranged.

The handing over of bodies assumes particular significance in the Siachen theatre, where 20 Pakistani soldiers have died in 11 assaults on Indian pickets since October 18, 1998. The bodies of five personnel, including one Capt Shabir, killed in an attempt on January 27 last, still lie buried under snow right in front of an Indian picket.

``The world will see India's humanitarian gesture in returning the bodies as a confidence building measure. Even if Pakistan refuses to take back the bodies, it will not only place concrete proof of Pakistan's covert operations in Kashmir under the spotlight, but will also be seen in international forums as having rebuffed India's gesture of goodwill. World opinion can then put pressure on Pakistan to respond to India's humane gesture,'' an Army officer said.

The Army has alsoshot Pakistani regular soldiers and Rangers operating as militants in Jammu and Kashmir. ``After identification, the bodies will be handed back, and the Uri LoC is slotted to be the first point for the transfer,'' the sources added.

Recognising that infiltration was the key issue, highly-placed defence sources said attempts would also be made to hand back the bodies of Pakistani nationals killed in anti-militancy operations, especially those on the LoC.

Delving on the other draft confidence building measures, sources said. ``The aim would be to put an end to all artillery and mortar fire and confine the exchange to small arms. Even when small arms fire is exchanged, flag meetings on the LoC at the Brigade Commander-level will not only try to end the firing, but also resolve the conflict by finding out why the firing started,'' the sources added. Enhanced communication will envisage not only establishment of links between both the Armies at specific points on the LoC, but also replacement of theBaramulla-Murree communication link between the two.

``Previously, this link was through telephone cables and most of the time it used to break down. But modern communication facilities will certainly enhance the communication and provide a stable Baramulla-Murree link,'' an Army officer said. Confidence building measures pertaining to the Siachen Glacier will include deescalation in the rate of fire, creation of a buffer zone where no side will hold positions and the pulling back of both the armies after a mutually-demarcated line is arrived at.