A 12-member delegation of Pakistani members of parliament arrived at the New Delhi Railway Station on Thursday night.

Activists of the All India Peace Foundation, holding placards that read 'No War, Sirf Pyar Hi Pyar' and 'Long Live Indo-Pak Friendship', welcomed them.

The delegation, led by Irshad Thakwani, has four women.

Reporters and cameramen rushed as soon as the Shatabdi Express from Amritsar entered Platform 12.

In their enthusiasm, they blocked the door of the executive compartment, with the result that the Pakistani leaders had to stay put for some time.

One of the MPs, in fact, ticked off the journalists. Later, they alighted and were immediately surrounded by reporters eager to get their reaction on arriving in New Delhi.

"We are here to increase friendship with the Indian people. Of course, we have problems but I think there is nothing that cannot be resolved through dialogue," Thakwani told rediff.com

"People-to-people contact is extremely important, whether it is culture, sports or any other field. We hope to learn from our Indian friends and I trust they too will benefit when they visit our country," he said.

Shuja-ul-Mulk, another MP, said he believed that despite some irritants, the two countries had to rise above partisan views.

"If we stick to our rigid stance on issues, how can we break the ice? We are here to break the ice and ensure that our people in both countries have good and friendly relations. Dosti se hi mamla aage badega [matters will move forward only through friendship]," he said.

Sherry Rahman, one of the woman MPs, said although 'Kashmir remains the core issue', the Pakistanis would endeavour to remove misunderstandings between the people of India and Pakistan.

"It is also the responsibility of the media to ensure that our friendship surges ahead," she said.

"Hum chahte hain ki dosti ka haath badhaya jaye [we want the hand of friendship to be extended]," MP Bhandare said.

Contentious issues needed to be sorted out through 'sincerity and pragmatism,' he added.

Indian parliamentarian Abdul Rashid Shaheen was at the station to welcome the Pakistanis.

"Of course, there has to be a certain amount of give and take between us, but that doesn't mean that we do not appreciate each others' views," he said.

The coordinator of the reception committee, Nirmala Deshpande, said she was extremely happy to welcome the Pakistanis and hoped that the friendship between the parliamentarians of the two countries would go a long way in solving problems.

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