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First bus to Lahore will carry Indian PM

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has decided to travel on the inaugural bus to Pakistan.

An external affairs ministry spokesman, commenting on reports quoting Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharief's saying that he would like Vajpayee to be on the bus, said the prime minister is looking forward to meeting "Sharief and other Pakistani leaders as well as the people of Pakistan".

Vajpayee's visit will be one more manifestation of India's abiding desire to build peaceful, friendly and co-operative relations with Pakistan, the spokesman said.

The date for the inaugural run will be worked out shortly through diplomatic channels.

Informed sources said Vajpayee would most likely board the bus at Amritsar.

Former prime minister Inder Kumar Gujral, father of the Gujral Doctrine, welcomed the decision, saying it would open a new chapter in relations between the two countries.

"I welcome both the initiative and the response," he said about Vajpayee's decision in response to Sharief's invitation.

He said the move was a strong rebuff to "the merchants of hatred" in both India and Pakistan.

"As a matter of fact, the beginning for this happy turn of events was made by the Madras sports lovers who so handsomely greeted the Pakistani winners of the Test match, thus restoring the spirit of sports," he said.

Gujral said he was personally satisfied that the process of friendship and co-operation among neighbours that he had initiated is picking up.

UNI

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