For the first time in the history of India and Pakistan, a delegation of 20 Pakistanis, including 12 parliamentarians, arrived at the Wagah border on Thursday to take part in a candlelight vigil at midnight.

Rajya Sabha member Kuldip Nayyar welcomed the delegation, which arrived under the leadership of Aziz Hassan.

Nayyar is also a member of the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch and Folklore Research Academy, which have organised the vigil.

The Kashmir issue could be resolved through talks held in a cordial atmosphere, he said, adding the delegation was carrying a message of peace.

"We do not want war but peace. As both the nations are breathing under the same sky, sharing water from the same canals, enjoying same cultures, it is only the international border that is causing fissures," he said.

Expressing concern over the December 13, 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament, he said, "Indian and Pakistani masses have age-old bindings and we are here to strengthen them further. But sometimes, some notorious elements sabotage the peace efforts.

"The need of the hour is for both the nations not to interfere in the affairs of each other."

Rozia Bahar, a parliamentarian from the Pakistan People's Party, denied that the Pakistani government was running terrorist camps.

She invited Indian representatives to visit Pakistan and verify for themselves the authenticity of such issues.