Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani on Saturday said Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was forced to
tell a 'big lie' about mafia don Dawood Ibrahim at their meeting during the Agra summit in 2001.

"I thought he was like an armyman and politics might not be in his heart. I felt he would be interested in developing friendly relations with India like we wanted," Advani said addressing a function in New Delhi.

Also see: Dawood Ibrahim is a global terrorist: US
 
Advani said he told the Pakistani leader that with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in power, there was a possibility of ending the acrimony between the two countries.

"I brought the reference of Turkey, where I had just then visited and signed an extradition treaty," he said.

"I told India needed the treaty with Pakistan more than Turkey. He did not realise where I was taking him, and said 'why not, why not'," Advani said and added that he then sought handing over of 1993 Mumbai blast prime accused Dawood Ibrahim.

"Musharraf said it is not a big thing....I told him that he does not realise how common people in India would react if Dawood was handed over. Then he said Dawood is not in Pakistan," Advani said.

The deputy prime minister said a top Pakistani official later told him that he had "forced Musharraf to speak a big lie in front of all the officials."

Also see: Indian stand vindicated, says Advani