NEW DELHI, June 1: A number of relatives of Indian soldiers alleged to have been taken as POWs by Pakistan in the 1971 war, began a tour of Pakistan on Friday in a search for the missing kin, a promise made to them by President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The relatives who were given visas to fly to Lahore are expected to visit 10 prisons in the country. Pakistani officials deny Indian claims that Islamabad is keeping Indian POWs illegally.

One of those who boarded the flight of hope on Friday evening was Damayanti Tambay. The last she saw of her husband Flight Lt Vijay Tambay was in December 1971 as he left the air force base in Ambala to fly to Pakistan.

On Dec 5, 1971, a Pakistan newspaper reportedly said that five Indian pilots were captured alive and one of the names mentioned was of Flight Lt V.V. Tambay.

Our reporter adds from Lahore: A 14-member delegation of Indian citizens arrived here on Friday through the Wagah border post to look for their missing relatives.

The delegation led by T.S. Gill was received by senior officials of the Indian High Commission. Tight security arrangements had been made for their arrival.

The delegation members will visit 10 jails in the country, including the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. They will first visit Kot Lakhpat Jail at 10.30am on Saturday. Other jails where they will go to look for their relatives include those in Karachi, Multan and Mianwali.

Talking to reporters, Mr Gill said the delegation had come to Pakistan on the invitation of President Gen Pervez Musharraf. Praising the president’s gesture, he said India should reciprocate it.

He said his brother H.S. Gill, who was a commander in the Indian air force, had gone missing during a mission over Pakistan.