Blair mission to avert war

Pakistan's former president today claimed Tony Blair would be a "good influence" on moves to pull the country back from the brink of war with India.

Farooq Leghari said the Prime Minister, who embarks on a diplomatic mission to the two countries in the next few days, could play a "significant role" in efforts to calm the growing crisis.

Downing Street had been trying to keep secret news of the Prime Minister's visit for security reasons. However, Islamabad announced the trip yesterday and No10 was forced to confirm it. The decision to go ahead with the tricky mission follows a new round of calls between Mr Blair and US President George Bush.

No precise details of the trip have been released but it is known that the Prime Minister will meet both Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf and Indian premier Atal Behari Vajpayee.

The two countries both have nuclear weapons and have been engaged in a military build-up along their border since the suicide bombing of the Indian parliament by Kashmiri separatists on 13 December, which left 14 dead.

India has accused Pakistan's military intelligence of masterminding the attack and there has been sporadic exchange of gunfire and shelling in the divided Himalayan state of Kashmir.

Mr Blair is likely to be politely received in Islamabad, where he will be seen as an envoy of Mr Bush. Diplomatic intervention by the US is believed by Pakistan to be the way forward for resolving the crisis.

Today Mr Leghari, who stood down as Pakistan's president in 1998, told Radio 4's Today programme: "I think Tony Blair can be a very good influence in relieving tensions between India and Pakistan.

"The visit can play a significant role. The Indians will have to be persuaded to stand down from their hype on the current situation." Mr Blair is not likely to produce a detailed peace plan but instead hopes to be a "moderating influence".

Reports today suggested he would send a tough message to the Pakistan authorities over terrorists in Kashmir. Exactly how far he can go, however, will be compromised by his desire to do nothing to offend President Musharraf, still seen by the West as a key ally in the war in Afghanistan.

Mr Blair's visit, which could be derailed at any time by a fresh escalation of violence, is likely to draw more criticism that he is turning his back on problems at home, particularly over the NHS and transport.

The Prime Minister, now on a family holiday in Egypt, spent a frantic few months at the end of last year flying thousands of miles on various diplomatic missions linked to the war against terrorism, including two separate transatlantic trips.

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