New Delhi: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on July 22 asserted that the terrorist attack on Vaishno Devi pilgrims on July 21 night would not affect the peace process initiated by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

"No, it won't," he replied when asked whether the attack would derail the peace process, during his visit to a photo exhibition on the effect of terrorism on Kashmiri Pandits.

"So far as terrorism is concerned, the whole nation is conscious of it and the entire world has become conscious of it after September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the US," he said.

Six pilgrims were killed and over 40 injured when terrorists triggered explosions at Katra en route to the Vaishno Devi shrine on July 21 night.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman A S Anand, who also visited the exhibition, condemned the terrorist strike, saying the commission "shares the anguish of the citizens and we do hope people would maintain communal harmony and will not be misled by the dastardly and cowardly attack on pilgrims."

PTI