ASIAN community leaders say diplomatic tensions in South Asia will have no impact on the visit of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to Blackburn, tomorrow.

The two-time Premier of Pakistan will visit the town just days after relations between her home country and neighbouring India plunged to new lows after the shooting down of a Pakistani jet.

Relations between the two countries are already strained over the disputed Kashmir region and the recent announcement that both nations have nuclear power status.

But community leaders in Blackburn are confident the visit will pass of without incident.

The Mayor of Blackburn, Coun Salas Kiani, said: "During her visit to Britain, Benazir Bhutto has been to Bradford, Stoke on Trent, Manchester and London and there have been no problems.

"I am sure there will be none in Blackburn either, because this is not about politics. The Asian population of Blackburn and Darwen are calm, quiet and happy about the visit.

Mrs Bhutto will arrive in Blackburn at 11.30am tomorrow, where she will be welcomed at the town hall by the Mayor, Mayoress Zohra Kiani and Phil Watson, chief executive of the council.

Between 11.45am and 12.30pm the Mayor, the leader of the council, Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson and Mrs Bhutto will will speak to those gathered.

The leader of the Pakistan People's Party will then pay a visit to the town's museum and art gallery before being taken to Ewood Park, where a celebration to mark Pakistani Independence Day will be held.

Mrs Bhutto was Prime Minister of Pakistan between 1988 and 1990 and then again between 1993 and 1996.

Between 1977 and 1984 she was under house arrest in her own country during the reign of Zia Ul Haq, who imposed martial law on the country.

During that period, Mrs Bhutto's father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was executed by the military regime.

In April, Mrs Bhutto was convicted of corruption in a Pakistani court.

Inspector Stuart Caley, of Blackburn Police, said officers were aware of the visit, but he refused to say whether any special arrangements would be put in place.

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