NEW DELHI, Jan 5: Indian Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishan Advani asked influential businessmen from western countries on Sunday to exert pressure on their governments to turn the heat on countries like Pakistan for allegedly sponsoring terrorism.

Inaugurating Confederation of Indian Industries’ Partnership Summit-2003 in Hyderabad, Advani was quoted as saying that post- Sept 11 experience had clearly demonstrated the extremely adverse impact terrorism had on business and trade internationally.

“Therefore, businessmen in western countries should lend their influential voice to strengthen the resolve of the global community to effectively fight this menace,” Advani was quoted by the Press Trust of India as saying.

He urged the businessmen to exert pressure on their respective governments “to isolate and turn the heat on states that sponsor terrorism”.

Advani asked the US and other nations in the international coalition against terrorism not to support states like Pakistan which he has almost always accused of sponsoring, aiding and abetting terrorism.

“The least they can do to remain faithful to their own affirmations is not to support or tolerate, in any way, states that are known to shelter, finance, aid and instigate terrorist organisations that have openly declared India as their target,” he said.

Stating that Islamabad had “failed to convince the world that what was happening in Jammu and Kashmir was ‘freedom struggle’,” Advani said Pakistan’s “desperate attempts to sabotage” the controversial assembly polls there were foiled by the local people by participating in the elections which he said were free and fair.