NEW DELHI, Nov 11: Former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and MQM leader Altaf Hussain have called upon the governments of India and Pakistan to show flexibility in talks.

Mr Hussain called on the Indian leader at his residence here on Thursday.

He was accompanied by MQM's Rabita Committee member M. Anwar and deputy coordinator for international relations division Mohammad Yunus, and Mr Vajpayee by former national security adviser Birjesh Mishra.

Mr Hussain praised the bold and courageous stand taken by Mr Vajpayee for restoration of Indo-Pak relations.

During the hour-long meeting, Mr Hussain reiterated his demand for reopening the Khokhrapar-Munabao border, providing visa facilities in Karachi, commissioning the Karachi-Bombay ferry service, easing visa facilities for Indian and Pakistani citizens and exempting citizens aged above 60 years from visa restrictions.

He reaffirmed his conviction that people of both countries wanted peace.

Praising the stand of Mr Hussain, the former prime minister extended all possible support, on his behalf and on behalf of his Bharatiya Janata Party, for efforts aimed at achieving the objective.

CONDOLENCES: The MQM chief issued a condolence message on Thursday, expressing grief and sorrow over the passing away of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

He described Arafat as a brave and courageous leader who struggled for peace. He showed flexibility at times, but those in authority failed to cash in on his flexibility. With Arafat's passing away, Mr Hussain said, the Ummah had lost a brave leader.-Agencies