Leaders of Pakistan's opposition parties and main Islamist alliance met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the sidelines of the SAARC summit and praised his peace initiatives to normalise relations between India and Pakistan.

A delegation of Pakistan People's Party leaders led by vice-chairman Makhdoom Fahim met Vajpayee at a reception hosted by the Indian High Commissioner for the Prime Minister on Sunday.

Handing over flowers sent by party leader and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto to Vajpayee, Fahim said the PPP appreciated the Indian leader for his initiative to bring peace to the region.

Also Read The SAARC Summit 2004

The initiative and political standing of Vajpayee offered a hope for peace in the region, he said.

At the reception, member of the National Assembly Ramesh Lal presented a memorandum to Vajpayee asking him to offer more visa facilities for Pakistani Hindus to visit India.

An Muttahida Majlis Amal delegation led by Jamat Ulema Islami leader Fazlur Rehman held a 10-minute long meeting with Vajpayee and felicitated him for his peace initiative to reduce tension between the two countries.

During the meeting, Rehman praised the confidence-building measures announced by India and Pakistan to normalise the situation between the two countries.

The JUI-F leader welcomed Vajpayee's participation in the summit and urged for talks to resolve contentious issues, including Kashmir.