London: Highly-placed diplomats in Brussels have said that a host of European countries are planning to play a pivotal role in ensuring peace in South Asia by persuading the leaders of India and Pakistan to chalk out a realistic programme aimed at ending the decades-old confrontation.

Pakistan's national daily 'The News' on May 18 quoted the diplomats as saying that the group of the European countries - France, Germany and Russia - who opposed the US-led war on Iraq, wants to play a more "effective, meaningful and active" role in the South Asian peace process.

Without naming, the daily quoted one diplomat as saying that some leading Pakistani leaders, including President Pervez Musharraf, would soon receive telephone calls from the three anti-Iraq war allies in this regard.

"An elaborate plan is being charted out for meetings with Pakistani leaders in various capitals of the world," the diplomat added.

He further said these European nations are in constant touch with India and Pakistan through normal diplomatic channel.

With regard to India, the diplomats said French President Jacques Chirac has extended a special invitation to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee while he will be at the G-8 summit, to be held in the French town of Evian-les-Bains from June 1-3.

"The idea behind inviting Vajpayee is to launch discussions with the Indian leadership on the ongoing peace process in South Asia," they added.

The diplomats reportedly said the European countries' bid would not be mediation, but a facilitation from European friends to end the Indo-Pak confrontation.

They said the feeling of hostility is hampering the overall development in both the countries, besides greatly affecting the day-to-day life of their people.

According to them, world leaders like US President George W Bush, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chinese President Hu Jintao are also soon expected to speak to Indian and Pakistan leaders to discuss the ongoing peace process.

ANI