Lahore, June 25: Visiting Indian politicians today called for easing of visa restrictions to promote friendship between Pakistan and India. "War is not a solution of any dispute between the two countries," said delegation leader Kuldip Nayyar. He said both Indian and Pakistani people sought peace and an end to the tensions between the South Asian neighbours which have escalated to three wars since 1947.
Nayyar said the two countries should open special visa counters at Wagah on the Pakistan side and Atari on the India side of their sole land border crossing to facilitate travel by the people on both sides.
"Our visit to Pakistan has been successful beyond our expectations," Nayyar told an audience in Lahore prior to the MPs' return to India. He said it should pre-empt top-level talks to resolve disputes.
"Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is ready to hold talks on all issues."
He expressed the hope that improvement in India-China relations and Pakistan-US ties "will bring positive changes in the region".

Almost all the India MPs in the six member delegation urged Pakistan to forget the bitterness of the past and "step forward to establish new friendly relations with India."

"Misunderstanding has been the main hurdle in the establishment of good friendly relations with Pakistan," said MP Ram Das. Bureau Report