August 31, 2002	Saturday	Karachi, Jamadi-us-Saani 21, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 30: The Buddhist Monks have arrived in the capital after completing the first leg of the Pakistan-India Prayer March for Peace-2002.

Visiting Dawn office after completion of the first part of the peace march which started from Taxila on August 6, monks’ leader Reverend Terasawa Junsei said the government had taken extraordinary security measures to make the peace effort successful. At some instances, more than 50 security guards provided protection to the group of 10 monks, he said.

Monks of six different nationalities are participating in the peace march. They visited various parts of the country on foot, including the Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir.

“It was unfortunate that two terrorist incidents happened while we were propagating the message of peace,” Rev Terasawa said, referring to the terrorist attacks in Murree and Taxila.

“We were allowed to visit the areas in NWFP despite the ongoing operation of Pakistan against Al Qaeda, which speaks highly of the government’s commitment to the cause of peace,” he said.

He said people in the Northern Areas and Kashmir were open- hearted and spiritual, and the monks found them sharing a common heritage of peace.

The monks would enter India from Wagah border on September 10. The peace march is expected to end in India on October 12, at Sanchi.