The official identified the Pakistani peacenik as Aman Azhar and said he was prevented from going ashore when the Panama-registered TSS Topaz arrived here Monday carrying 800 passengers from various countries.

Senior Kochi port official K.C.Thomas said he was following rules.

"As per Indian laws, no Pakistani national can be allowed to step on Indian soil. The same applies for an Indian who goes to Pakistan as well," Thomas said of the strict visa regime prevailing between the South Asian nuclear rivals.

Azhar, a journalist with Pakistan's English-language The Independent newspaper, said he was being victimised as he was the only person denied permission to go ashore.

"I am aware of the laws in both countries (India and Pakistan). But I feel sad that I am not permitted to step on Indian soil where my roots of my family lie," Azhar said from the passenger liner.

It was unclear whether Azhar held a valid visa for India.

Peace mission coordinator Michiko Ono of Japan said she did not want any controversy to mar the global voyage.

"We are on a mission to spread the message of peace and what has happened in Azhar's case is only an example of misunderstanding and mistrust that nations nurture amongst themselves.

"We hope that India and Pakistan will sort out their differences so that people-to-people interaction at the grassroot level will be facilitated," she told AFP.

The ship left Japan on June 14 and is set to criss-cross oceans and touch ports in Vietnam, Singapore, Kenya, Egypt Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the United States and Jamaica before returning home in September, she said.

India and Pakistan, which came dangerously close to their fourth war last year, are currently trying to mend ties and have promised to restore air, road and rail links.

New Delhi accuses Islamabad of arming and training Islamic guerrillas in Kashmir and screens each and every Pakistani applying for a visa to visit India.

WAR.WIRE