Islamabad: Observing that Art could play a role in promoting peace and harmony across the border, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said it was due to this reason that he and Indian leaders had introduced "music diplomacy" during his recent visit to India.

"Pakistan and India have introduced music diplomacy. I presented ghazal compact discs (CDs) to my Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as gifts and they gave me music CDs in return," Aziz said at a cultural function in Lahore yesterday (Nov 25, 2004), attended among others by internationally acclaimed Indian painter M F Hussain.

"Art does not recognise borders or language...South Asian artists have great talent and if they work as a unit, they can create harmony between their countries," he was quoted as saying by the 'Daily Times' newspaper.

Terming it a "great honour" to share the dais with Hussain and legendary Pakistani painter Gul Jee at the 'Old Masters, Young Voices' art exhibition, he said that the event provided an opportunity for direct links with artists and people.

Recalling his first meeting with Hussain at an exhibition, which he had gone to inaugurate in New York 10 years ago, Aziz said one of the qualities which struck him were the artist's tremendous creativity and love for horses.

He said that he had acquired Hussian's painting then and it was still in his possession.