Condemning the barbaric attack on former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto [Images], Leader of the Opposition Lal Kishenchand Advani on Friday called her up to express relief over her survival in the deadly assassination bid.

Advani had a brief conversation with Bhutto, who narrowly survived the worst-ever terror strike in Pakistan on Thursday night, and wished her well and success in life.

He also conveyed his condemnation of the deadly attack and expressed relief that she has been saved.

On her part, Bhutto invited the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader to visit Pakistan as she was not in the country when he visited last.

Earlier, in a statement in Delhi, Advani expressed solidarity with the people of Pakistan in the battle against terrorism and for democracy and said he was "aghast" at the news of the terror attack on Bhutto.

"Last night's shocking incident in Karachi leaves no doubt whatsoever that the battle for democracy and the battle against terrorism are inter-related," he said.

He said Pakistan's stability and progress, as also the normalisation of Indo-Pak relations is best guaranteed by the establishment of genuine democracy in that country, combined with a resolute fight against religious extremism and terror.

"It is an irony that, at a time when tall claims are being made about Pakistan's democratisation, one former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was recently prevented from returning to his own country and another former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has been 'greeted' by a terrorist attack on her arrival," he said.