ISLAMABAD, May 31: President Gen Pervez Musharraf telephoned former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Monday and appreciated the role played by him in forwarding the Pakistan-India peace process.

Foreign office spokesperson Masood Khan said President Musharraf and Mr Vajpayee talked in a cordial atmosphere. Information Minister Sheikh Rashid said the president expressed the hope that Mr Vajpayee would continue to play a role for advancing the cause of peace in the region, especially between Pakistan and India.

He said President Musharraf conveyed his good wishes for the health and well-being of Mr Vajpayee. According to the information minister, Mr Vajpayee suggested that both sides should refrain from issuing negative statements against each other in order to continue the good atmosphere of bilateral relations between the two countries.