Wednesday, June 1 2005 14:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Leader of Opposition and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president L K Advani today (June1, 2005) suggested formation of a Friendship Association of Parliamentarians of India and Pakistan to further the peace process between the two countries.

Advani, who met Speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly Choudhary Amir Hussain at the Parliament House in Islamabad, told him that the time has come for the formation of a Friendship Association of Parliamentarians of India and Pakistan.

Hussain welcomed the suggestion, a release issued by Advani's press secretary said.

Advani is currently on a weeklong tour to Pakistan. He would visit Lahore tomorrow (June 2, 2005) and later travel to Karachi where he was born.

Hussain, who recently visited India, welcomed Advani saying "You are one of the veteran leaders of Indian Parliament and we welcome you to our National Assembly," it said.

"The breakthrough in our bilateral relations came when Atal Bihari Vajpayee came to attend the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) Summit in Islamabad early last year (2004). Thereafter came all the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs).

"However, all of us here know your support to the peace process when you were in Government, and also now.

Therefore, the credit, both directly and indirectly, goes to you also," Hussain, said.

For his part Advani thanked the Speaker and said, "the credit for the peace process must really go to the awaam (people) of the two countries. The two countries have lived with tension for too long. If the tension disappears, the possibilities of bilateral cooperation are immense."

During the meeting Hussain recalled his recent "memorable" visit to India at the invitation of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

He said that he had invited Chatterjee to visit Pakistan and asked Advani to convey his invitation personally to him.