KARACHI, March 12: Priyanka Gandhi, the daughter of Indian Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, expressed the hope on Friday that India and Pakistan would eventually succeed in establishing peace in the region.

"War is not a solution of our problems. We have to create love and affection. We hope that people-to-people contact will lead to that," she said while taking to newsmen during a visit to the Edhi Children's Home in Clifton, shortly after her arrival from Mumbai to witness the opening One Day International between India and Pakistan.

The tall and fresh looking Priyanka, her husband Robert Vadra and brother Rahul Gandhi said they hoped to witness good and exciting cricket between the two teams.

In the context of peace initiatives taken by the two countries Priyanka Gandhi said that peace was essential for the progress of the people of the region.

She appreciated the humanitarian assistance network of Edhi Foundation and said she was pleased to visit one of its projects, though she had heard a lot about the organization.

The Gandhis were surprised that the service was being provided with public donations at such a large scale. Priyanka Gandhi had expressed the desire to visit one of the establishments of Edhi Foundation.

Welcoming the guests, Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi said he had always pleaded for banishing the politics of hatred and acrimony between the two countries.

He said that acrimony between India and Pakistan had plunged the region into wars and arms race which was a wasteful expenditure at the cost of welfare of their people.

He appreciated the efforts for normalization being made by President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and hoped this would provide relief to the impoverished teeming millions in South Asia.

When the Gandhis arrived at the centre they were welcomed by the Edhis and children lodged there. They presented bouquet to the Indian guests who mingled with the inmates and also distributed some gifts among them. Children also presented a tableau on this occasion.

Earlier on arrival at the Karachi Airport, Priyanka attired in pink shalwar kameez, obliged the waiting newsmen with a brief comment: "It is very nice to be here and I am very pleased."

She, her husband Vadra and brother Rahul have been provided the protocol of state guests during their three-day stay in the city.

As they flew into the metropolis by the PIA flight PK-275 from Mumbai, they were taken out of the terminal building through departure gate, escorted by a heavy contingent of security men, both Indian and Pakistani.

From the airport they were driven to the State Guest House. They were originally supposed to stay at a hotel but the government of Pakistan decided to treat them as state guests and lodge them at the State Guest House where the visiting heads of state or government stay.

According to sources, 95 other Indian guests also arrived by the same flight. They included businessmen and politicians.