"I think we were able to change the situation to some extent," Advani tells presenter Karan Thapar. "At least to the extent that the leader of Pakistan, who came here three years back and refused to admit there was any such thing as terrorism - there's no terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, it's just a freedom struggle that's going on - he now doesn't say that. He simply says there's terrorism but I'm not responsible."

When it was pointed out that "terrorism" hasn't been completely eradicated in the border area, Advani countered, "It hasn't stopped. But I do know from facts as well as statistics it has come down, and if it had not come down we would not have seen tens of thousands of tourists going to J&K as they have been going this year."

In a wide-ranging interview, the Deputy PM also refuted suggestions in the media that the Supreme Court's order to stall the sale of two oil companies would mean an end to privatisation in India. "I don't agree with that (perception) fully, though there have been difficulties created. We are examining the judgement… it's an obstacle. I would not say a major obstacle because we have several options we are thinking of. But a Supreme Court judgement is not the weakness of the government. It's the law of the land and therefore you have to maneuver, you have to either circumvent it or find a way out."