The fire and brimstone, so much visible in Advani of August '98, has given way to the search for those elusive friendly ties based on ``mutual trust and peace'', as he put it. But last time, many found Advani's exhortations bordering on a war cry. It was natural; the Home Minister's image added to the atmosphere.

Yesterday, however, the Advani that emerged at the Wagha border was hardly recognisable. He wasgenerous in his praise for Vajpayee, crediting him for taking the ``historic initiative'' through his bus ride to Lahore. He made no bones of the fact that decades ago, his own partymen had stressed for a ``confederation'' between India and Pakistan, for the simple reason that common people in the undivided India were against the Partition and the folly would be realised sooner or later by the political leaders of the two countries. He hinted that the dream could still be realised, but did not elaborate (that would have been too much, in any case, even in these times of fluid political postures). The emergence of a softer, more open and less rigid Advani could be witnessed not only in Wagha, but at New Delhi too. And not only by the Punjab crowd, but by a seasoned Congressman like P J Kurien, Lok Sabha MP from Kerala. On March 3, Kurien shot off a letter extending his ``personal thanks'' to Advani for granting special permission to Edward William, Bishop of Reeding, London, to speak at the Maramon conventionat Kerala. The local police authorities had objected to Williams as he was on a tourist visa.

Shedding the image of a hardliner could be politically prudent for Advani, especially at this stage when chants of pro-activism are in danger of being wiped out by Vajpayee's new-found love for Pakistan, point out observers.

Therefore, it is suggested, Advani's change of tone is precipitated more by opting for a new political weapon that would strengthen his position in the days to come.