Monday, May 30 2005 15:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President L K Advani, leaving on a "nostalgic" trip to Pakistan, today (May30, 2005) said that terrorism was a threat to both the countries and they should get rid of it.

Addressing office-bearers of the party hours before his departure to the country of his birth, the Leader of the Opposition said friendly relations between India and Pakistan were the need of the hour and that he would lay emphasis on this during his visit.

"The initiatives for the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan were taken by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government. The present Government has carried these forward. My visit to Pakistan will be helpful in this regard," the former Deputy Prime Minister said.

"The Joint Statement issued in January 2004 in Islamabad marked a breakthrough in relations between the two countries," he said, pointing out that the decision on peaceful initiatives was taken on the basis of declaration by Pakistan that it will not allow the country and territories under it to be used for terrorist activities against India.

Noting that his second visit to Pakistan in 27 years was important from a personal angle also, Advani, who is accompanied by family members said, "During my trip, I will lay stress on development of friendly relations between the two countries" and that there is complete unanimity on this in India.

Describing terrorism as a "threat" to India and Pakistan, he said, "Both should get rid of it".

Pointing out that the Vajpayee Government had made a "lot of efforts" to improve relations with Pakistan including Lahore bus sojourn and Agra Summit, he said that the success could be achieved only five months before the NDA Government lost power.

He said that decision about holding of Foreign Minister-level talks and other ongoing initiatives between the two countries were taken during the NDA rule when then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee travelled to Islamabad to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) Summit in January 2004.

Sharing his memories of Karachi, his birthplace, Advani said that the visit there was "nostalgic" for him.

He recalled during his trip to Karachi in 1978 as Information and Broadcasting Minister, he had visited his ancestral house and school.

"The house, in which a family from Junagarh was residing, was in the same condition as we had left it. I don't know in what state it will be now," Advani said.