March, 31 2005	Thursday	20 Safar 1426

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NEW DELHI, March 30: Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhury Shujaat Hussain called on former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and opposition leader Lal Krishna Advani here on Wednesday. They discussed a host of issues including the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan. Mr Advani shared his plans to visit Pakistan in June. He said he would be visiting his birthplace Karachi and also Islamabad and Lahore.

Chaudhry Shujaat complimented the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders for initiating the peace process between India and Pakistan and hoped that in the coming months it would help to resolve bilateral disputes, including the issue of Kashmir. In response, Mr Vajpayee pointed out that there “was one step that remained” in the completion of the process, but when asked what this was he maintained a diplomatic silence. Nevertheless, he added, that the Lahore bus service was a confidence building measure which has led to the current atmosphere of peace.

The former prime minister was true to his form in the meeting. Asked why the BJP lost in the elections last year, Mr Vajpayee said disarmingly, “it was due to overconfidence”. He pointed out that the party had miscalculated the mood of the people. Earlier when the same question was put to Mr Advani, he replied: “The lesson to us was, never take your voters for granted. The election results were quite a surprise. If you fail to nurture your constituency, then this is what happens.”

At this point the Pakistan Muslim League president also reiterated the point that he believed that in the forthcoming 2007 elections in Pakistan, the PML would have to win the support of the people. Otherwise, he added, the party’s gains would be limited to Islamabad.

The BJP leaders expressed satisfaction with the pace of the dialogue process, but pointed out that it should not be rushed by both countries. The general thrust of the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership was that both countries must ensure that we move forward in this current round of peace-making.

Mr S.M. Zafar pointed out that this process has to reach its logical conclusion and for that your support is needed. Mr Vajpayee remained silent on that. In response to a question, the ex-Indian premier said “something will have to be done on Kashmir.”

Earlier Mr Advani raised the issue of “terrorism” which he said he had also raised with the British foreign secretary. Members of the Pakistan delegation raised the issue of human rights’ violations in India Held Kashmir.

Chaudhry Shujaat pointed out that progress on all issues and CBMs must be simultaneous to keep the peace process on track.