Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani on Thursday welcomed the ban imposed on Maulana Masood Azhar's entry into Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

He hoped it was an indication of a beginning of a change in Islamabad's attitude.

Referring to Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali's statement that there was no change in Pakistan's attitude towards Kashmir, Advani said, "This does not bother India. What India is keen about is a change in Pakistan's attitude to cross-border terrorism. Our insistence for the last several years is that cross-border terrorism, as an instrument of state policy, has to be abandoned."

Advani said Pakistan was cautious because the international community was 'extremely raged' over terrorism. Referring to US policy towards Pakistan, Advani said Washington's foreign policy requirements warranted Pakistan to be a steady ally and in order to keep it in that position, they kept on giving certificates to Pakistan.

Asked if there was any reduction in the number of terrorist camps, he said, "According to our information, there is no reduction."

On his talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, Advani said Armitage only conveyed what he was told by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on the closure of terrorist camps.