ISLAMABAD Jan 8: The Musharraf government appears to have succeeded in assuring the British prime minister Tony Blair during his recent visit to Pakistan that it was ready to take steps necessary for the de-escalation of tension with India, including the impending crackdown on terrorists.

According to political leaders who met him on Monday the government appeared also to have convinced Mr Blair that it was ready to meet the Indian demands short of handing over the ‘wanted’ terrorists, insisting on evidence for action.

Those who met the British PM included Sartaj Aziz, Wasim Sajjad, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Raza Rabbani, Aitezaz Ahsan, Imran Khan, Asfandyar Wali Khan, Elahi Bakhsh Soomro, Fakhar Imam, Syeda Abida Hussain, Nasreen Jalil, and Shah Mehmud Qureshi.

No one from the religious parties was invited to the meeting which was hosted by the British High Commission. Those who were there seemed in agreement with President General Pervez Musharraf’s handling of the situation.

When asked about the possible impact of the Mr Blair’s visit, they said that things would start moving in the right direction once the president Gen Musharraf announces his road map to a more tolerant society.

Sartaj Aziz, a former foreign minister said Mr Blair’s visit would certainly help defuse tension, but its real impact would start to accrue after the president announcement of his plan to counter terrorism. He alleged that the real designs of India were to undermine Pakistan’s efforts aimed at reviving its economy.

The PPP’s vice-chairman Makhdoom Amin Faheem said: “We hope for the best from the visit and have impressed upon the British PM to convince India to resume the dialogue process.” He added that we have appealed to the world community to make sure that the road map to democracy, as announced by president Musharraf, be implemented in letter and spirit.

Syeda Abida Hussain (PML-LM) said: “Whether Mr Blair’s visit made any difference to the situation would become apparent only if India scaled down its military buildup.”

Imran Khan, chief of the PTI said that the world should understand that the volatile situation in the region was the result of Indian designs of hegemony.