This journey had its hitches, too. Because the hosts, the Jang Group of Newspapers, are locked in a running feud with the Nawaz Sharif Government. But Jang and the Pakistan Government reached an understanding earlier this week clearing the decks for the visit.

``It's a goodwill visit, to bring about some kind of a rapport between parliamentarians from both sides,'' says former Lok Sabha speaker Balram Jakhar, who's leading the delegation. ``It all happened very quickly but we are looking forward to the visit so that an atmosphere of warmth can be brought about in bilateral relations.''

Calling it a positive development, Bharatiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha member Arun Shourie articulates the changed perceptions: ``At this juncture, weshould steel ourselves against obstacles thrown in by negative elements from both sides and create an atmosphere of mutual trust... This is a good beginning and we should respond to every such gesture from the Pakistani side.''

It all began at the initiative of the Jang which in December last year, contacted several MPs from major parties, inviting them over to an informal interaction with parliamentarians of their country. It was bold and unprecedented but MPs -- with the nod from their respective party high commands -- accepted the offer.

The outcome: Twenty-five MPs, barring some last-minute cancellations, will board the PIA flight to Lahore on Thursday evening. Pakistan's national carrier has sought special permission from the Indian Government to land a ``bigger aircraft'' in Delhi that day so that it can accommodate the guests.

Among those on board will be former Union minister Sushma Swaraj, T N Chaturvedi, Satya Pal Jain, Vijay Goel, Kamal Choudhary and Chaman Lal Gupta from the BJP,former Union ministers Madhavsinh Solanki and Mukul Wasnik and Murli Deora, Kapil Sibal and Meira Kumar from the Congress. Arif Mohammad Khan will represent the Bahujan Samaj Party while the Left parties have also decided to send a representative.

In keeping with the times, it perhaps comes as no surprise that the person coordinating the trip from the Indian side is BJP Rajya Sabha MP K R Malkani, who is known for his hardline stand on Pakistan.

An enthusiastic Malkani now denies that he was ever a Pakistan-baiter. ``We have always been friends and we should now try to be better friends,'' he says, adding that the two countries have to live in peace despite Partition and other mutual problems.

According to Malkani, the MPs from both sides will indulge in informal discussions on issues such as peace and security and of course, the nuclear problem. They will also discuss ways and means to promote further interaction between the two sides at this level.

Meetings with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and thePakistani President have also been arranged. The delegation will spend a couple of days in Islamabad, rounding off the trip with a visit to Lahore to witness the `Basant' celebrations.