Patil, one of the well-known pre-Independence bureaucrats, expressed the opinion on the occasion of his 92nd birthday here on Sunday. The concept of a federation envisages a common government for the member states, for defence, external affairs and communications, while the other departments including law and order are the responsibility of the individual states.

Patil, who has written numerous articles on Indo-Pak and Indo-US relations, disputed Pakistan's claim to national status, saying that Pakistan was not created out of a people's movement, but due to the political circumstances preceding Independence. He said Pakistan has been carved out of India, does not have its ownhistory or base and thus cannot have a status of a separate nation.

He said that Pakistan, as it was created by Radcliffe Award, does not exist today as it has split into two separate parts with the formation of Bangladesh. He also said that the number of Muslims in India is definitely more than the Muslim populace of Pakistan and if Bangladeshi Muslims are added to this, the number of `Indian Muslims' outside Pakistan are three times more than those in Pakistan. ``Then whom does Pakistan as a nation represent?'' Patil asked. He said the identity of the Muslims of undivided India cannot change in a single day, viz August 14, 1947 and the Muslims in all these separate states will continue to be one.

The former minister argued that Pakistani leadership has always been trying to bolster the fading nationhood of Pakistan by fuelling anti-India feelings amongst its populace. ``When genuine democracy prevails in Pakistan, as it must, some day, the people of Pakistan will realise what they have lost byseparating from India.'' he said. There will then, necessarily, be a demand for having close relations with India, more likely in the form of a federation, he forecast.

Patil, however, said that until this permanent solution for bettering the relationships of these three countries comes about, a temporary solution can be based on the Cease Fire Line (CFL) or the Line of Actual Control (LOC), as envisaged in the Shimla Agreement. He said this will then ensure free trade, commerce and other bilateral practices. This temporary solution, in the due course, can evolve into a permanent one, he added.

But for this, he said, Pakistan must give up all its claims on the state of Jammu and Kashmir, except the Pak occupied Kashmir (PoK) area. He said although at present, Pakistan does not agree to this situation, it will have to in near future, as there is no other solution in sight. He said if the USA helps in bringing about this solution, India will be eternally in gratitude to her. It is also in USA's own interestto have a democratic united India as its ally in South Asian region.

He, however, asserted that meanwhile, India should take no steps to hurt Pakistan and should maintain the Hindu-Muslim unity. He called the Babri demolition incident as a `foolish step'.