Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH February 17 — There is lot of excitement in Pakistan over the proposed visit of the Indian Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, on February 20, says Mr Satya Pal Jain, MP, who returned yesterday after a five-day visit to Pakistan.
Mr Jain was a member of an Indian Parliamentary delegation which was led by a former Lok Sabha Speaker, Mr Balram Jakhar, and comprised MPs from almost all political parties.
He said that the 27-member delegation called on Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Mr Nawaz Sharif, a former Prime Minister, Mrs Benazir Bhutto, and leaders of other political parties. The delegation visited the historic temples at Kattasraj and gurdwaras at Lahore.
Mr Jain said that people in Pakistan wanted cordial and friendly relations with India. “They are keen on better economic cooperation to solve each other’s problems than to continue spending on war preparedness. Wherever we had interaction with political leaders and others, everyone expressed the wish for cordial relations between the two neighbouring countries. Though some of the problems cannot be solved overnight, yet people want negotiated settlement of all pending issues.”
He disclosed that there was heavy demand of Indian film songs. People watched proceedings of the Indian Parliament on TV sets and identified almost all political leaders. In Lahore, many enthusiasts asked for autographs of Mrs Sushma Swaraj.
Political differences apart, members of the delegation were unanimous in conveying the message of brotherhood and goodwill towards their Pakistani counterparts. At many places people were surprised when some members of the delegation made speeches in chaste Urdu.
