Modi makes surprise visit to Pakistan
December 25, 2015 05:11 pm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Lahore on Friday to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. This is the first visit to Pakistan by an Indian premier in more than 12 years.
Earlier, PM Modi tweeted that he would “drop by” Lahore on his way back to Delhi and meet Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who turned 66 today. The decision, say sources, was a “spontaneous” one taken this morning.
The Indian premier decided to go after his phone-call to his Pakistani counterpart to wish him on his birthday. This will be his first visit to Pakistan since taking office last year and the first visit by an Indian prime minister in 12 years.
Indian High Commissioner TCA Raghavan arrived at Lahore airport ahead of Modi’s arrival.
Security in and around the Allama Iqbal International Airport has been beefed up.
Lahore Airport declared VVIP and the all national and international flights diverted or grounded. Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif, Federal Finance Minister ishaq Dar reached airport to monitor security arrangements. PIA provided handling to Modi’s plane.
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, responding to Modi’s announcement, said on Twitter: “That’s like a statesman. Such should be the relationship between neighbours.”
Indian steel magnate Sajjan Jindal, the brother of former Congress MP Naveen Jindal, who reportedly arranged the secret meeting between Nawaz and Modi in Katmandu is also in Pakistan. “In Lahore to greet PM Nawaz Sharif on his birthday,” Jindal tweeted.
Mr Modi is the first Indian PM to visit Pakistan since 2004.
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have been high in recent years but relations have begun to warm.
The pair met briefly in Paris last month on the sidelines of the COP21 climate change conference.
The two countries have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947, two of them over Kashmir.
Kashmir, claimed by both countries in its entirety, has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years.
A ceasefire agreed in 2003 remains in place, but the neighbours often accuse each other of violating it.
-Agencies
