Monday, June 6 2005 07:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Karachi: Winding up his week-long visit to Pakistan, leader of the Opposition and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president L K Advani yesterday (Jun 5, 2005) rebuffed the "Akahnd Bharat" proponents of Sangh Parivar, asserting that the Partition of the Indian subcontinent cannot be undone.

In an apparent reference to the Sangh Parivar, he said critical viewpoint on ties between the two countries should neither be dismissed nor disparaged.

Under attack from Sangh Parivar outfits over his remarks in Karachi on issues ranging from Ayodhya demolition to the partition, Advani sought to strike a balance saying that hardening of positions in certain sections of the society in India and Pakistan were rooted in history.

"This is the reason why even well-intentioned moves for peace and normalisation are often viewed with suspicion and met with disapproval on both sides," Advani said and appealed to those involved in the Indo-Pak peace process to "give due weightage to these critical viewpoints". "Nothing can be achieved by either dismissing or disparaging these critical viewpoints," he said addressing a function organised by the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations, Economic Affairs and Law.

Maintaining that those who viewed the peace process with suspicion in both countries were "not insubstantial" in number, he said, "In our endeavour to establish lasting peace in India and Pakistan, it is axiomatic that we should strive to carry with us all sections of the society and public opinion in our two countries."

He however asserted that the subcontinent's partition "cannot be undone but some of the follies of partition can be undone and they must be undone".

"I dream of the day when divided hearts can be united, when divided families can be reunited, when pilgrims from one country - Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs - can freely go to holy sites located in the other country and when people can travel and trade freely while continuing to remain proud and loyal citizens of their respective countries," he said.

Summing up the state of Indo-Pak ties on the last day of his visit, Advani said unequivocally that "fiza zaroor badli huyi hain, bahut badli huyi hain (the atmosphere has definitely changed, it has changed a lot)."

He however cautioned that the peace and tranquillity that existed were still tentative as terrorist actions in Jammu and Kashmir have not come to an end.

Apparently seeking to play down the controversy triggered by his remarks on Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah's secular credentials, Advani said he had recounted Jinnah's historic speech in the Pakistan Constituent Assembly and due to his memory of his last conversation with former Ramakrishna Math head Swami Ranganathananda who had referred to the same to him last year before his death.

Visiting Jinnah's mausoleum on Saturday (Jun 4, 2005), Advani had written in the visitor's book Jinnah's speech favouring creation of a secular State in Pakistan.

Advani had also described him as a great man "who created history". The BJP chief's remarks had triggered protests from Sangh Parivar.

Advani also attributed the mentioning of Jinnah's speech to his visit to Katasaraj temple being renovated by the Pakistani Government.

During his trip, Advani sought to shed his Hindu hardliner image by describing the Babri mosque demolition as one of the "saddest days" in his life.

He also virtually disassociated himself from the Sangh Parivar's "Aghand Bharat" concept saying the emergence of India and Pakistan as separate independent and sovereign nations was "an unalterable" reality of history.

However, in his address yesterday, Advani expressed concern over certain issues that show how relations between the two countries "suffer from unavoidable abnormalities".

In this regard, the BJP chief mentioned the non-availability of Indian news channels in Pakistan and routing of bilateral trade through Dubai and Singapore.

While expressing happiness over the recent peace moves including the plans to reopen consulates in Karachi and Mumbai, he said, "all these are good signs but much more can be done and it should be our mutual resolve to all the desirable things and do them quickly".

"... We must convert the hope and confidence and resolve that we shall certainly find solutions to all the issues that have estranged our two brother nations."

Earlier in the day, senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader Nematullah Khan, who is also the Nazim of the Karachi district Government also called on Advani.

Leaders of MQM hosted a dinner in his honour later in the night.

During his visit, Advani interacted with the top Pakistani leadership including Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz besides visiting the Katasraj temple, Nankhana Sahab and his alma mater St Patrick High School and erstwhile residence.