The search for peace with Pakistan will be pursued relentlessly, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday.

Many people cannot understand how efforts for peace and preparations for defence can go together, said Vajpayee, who will also visit Russia and France.

"We want peace but if it is not possible then we have to be prepared. The search for peace will go on. But if needed, we will not give up defence for peace," he said at a reception hosted by the Indian Ambassador to Germany, T C A Rangachari.

Referring to the steps that he had taken to normalise ties with Pakistan, he said, "I went to Lahore with a message of peace. The peace bus crashed in Kargil. Even their prime minister (Nawaz Sharief) had to go. Then also I did not give up. I invited General (Pervez) Musharraf to Agra. He came but went on putting conditions that could not be fulfilled and the talks broke down."

Earlier, on his arrival at the Tegel Airport in the German capital, he said terrorism is not confined to a country or a region and there is a need to fight it globally.

He said he would discuss the issue of terrorism with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Wednesday.

The prime minister, who is accompanied by a high-level delegation including External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and Commerce and Industry Minister Arun Jaitely, was accorded a red carpet welcome.

A formal reception with military honour will be given on Tuesday.