A day after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee lavished praise on Lal Kishenchand Advani, describing the deputy prime minister as a source of strength, the latter returned the compliment saying Vajpayee's peace initiative with Pakistan has won global acclaim.

Advani arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday from a 10-day visit to the United States and the United Kingdom and headed straight for Uttan in neighbouring Thane district, where top BJP leaders have gathered for a 'chintan baithak' (brainstorming session).

Briefing the leaders on his deliberations in the US and the UK, Advani said: "It [the peace initiative] has once again convinced the international community of Atalji's sincere efforts to establish peace and normal relations with Pakistan and to resolve all bilateral issues with our neighbour through dialogue," he said.
       
Other speakers complimented Vajpayee on a string of successes the armed forces recently scored against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
 
The BJP's relations with its various allies was the main subject of discussion at the meeting on Thursday. The leaders also reviewed the National Democratic Alliance government's popular development initiatives and considered ways in which they could be implemented with greater speed and efficiency.

Some new intiatives for the benefit of poor, farmers, unemployed youth and backward regions were also discussed, party sources said.