ISLAMABAD, Jan 3: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee arrived here on Saturday afternoon to a very warm welcome. The airport building was decorated with the flags of the seven Saarc countries, and welcome slogans for the distinguished guests.

Prime Minister Vajpayee is the second Indian leader to arrive at Islamabad International. Earlier, late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Islamabad in 1988.

The white Boeing 737 of the Indian Air Force nick-named 'Rajdoot' landed at the airport at 3.28pm (PST) as army helicopters flew around the airport.

A red carpet was rolled out and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali warmly shook hands with the Indian Prime Minister. A young boy in sherwani presented him a bouquet.

Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, who is also the Minister-in- Waiting, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, Indian Minister for External Affairs Yashwant Sinha and Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Shiv Shankar Menon received the guest.

As flags of Pakistan and India fluttered on either side of the dias the two prime ministers stood alert for the national anthems of the two countries.

A contingent of the three services presented him salute.

Prime Minister Vajpayee was later driven off in his black bullet-proof BMW specially flown to Pakistan. A group of Indian commandos known as Black Cat is accompanying him.

An unprecedented security was in place for Mr Vajpayee. The entire route was totally sealed and army helicopters hovered atop the entire route.

People standing along the road waved hands as his entourage drove past them.-APP