PM Modi springs Pakistan surprise

First Indian PM in Pakistan after Vajpayee 2004 trip

In what is seen as a masterstroke and diplomatic coup, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sprang a major surprise by making a brief halt of around two and a half hours in Lahore on Friday to meet Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, shortly after announcing his intention to the world via Twitter, and throwing the Opposition and the media into a tizzy. The move has considerably strengthened the path of the “Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue” that New Delhi had recently decided to initiate with Islamabad. Pakistani officials said the two leaders decided to take forward the dialogue process and it was agreed that the two foreign secretaries will meet in Islamabad next month, possibly on January 15, adding that both leaders wanted restoration of mutual confidence between the two countries.

“Breakfast in Kabul, tea in Lahore & dinner in Delhi! PM Narendra Modi returns after a unique day in Indian diplomacy,” MEA spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted, soon after Mr Modi returned to New Delhi later on Friday evening.

The visit also highlighted the strong friendship between the two leaders that grew after Mr Sharif attended the swearing-in ceremony of Mr Modi in May 2014. “Beyond the noise, a personal connect. The Prime Ministers discuss India-Pakistan relations in Raiwind,” Mr Swarup added. In Lahore, Mr Modi, who had ended his visits to Russia and Afghanistan, was received by Mr Sharif with a warm hug at the tarmac of the Allama Iqbal International Airport. Mr Modi was given a red carpet welcome as the PM’s special IAF aircraft made a smooth touchdown at 4.20 pm local time (4.50 pm IST). The two PMs then got into a helicopter to head for Mr Sharif’s Raiwind palatial residence in Lahore’s outskirts.

They spent about 80 minutes together, when Mr Modi greeted family members at the wedding of Mr Sharif’s grand-daughter Mehrun Nisa at the Pakistan PM’s Raiwind home. Foreign secretary S. Jaishankar and other Indian officials were also present. As Mr Modi stepped down on Pakistani soil after alighting from his Air Force aircraft, it marked the first visit by an Indian PM in more than 11 years. The last visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Pakistan was that by Atal Behari Vajpayee in 2004. Before that, Mr Vajpayee had visited Pakistan in 1999. Former PM Manmohan Singh never visited Pakistan in his decade-long stint in power.

Briefing the media after the Nawaz-Modi meet at the Jati Umrah residence of Mr Sharif on the outskirts of Lahore, Pakistan foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry was quoted as saying: “PM Modi’s visit to Lahore was not a planned one. It was organised on a short notice after Mr Modi expressed his wish to come here en route to Delhi from Afghanistan.” He added: “He (Mr Modi) telephoned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and expressed his desire to visit Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif welcomed his Indian counterpart, saying he was in Lahore. PM Modi, however, was unaware of the marriage of Nawaz Sharif’s grand-daughter.” The two leaders are learnt to have discussed key issues that dominate India-Pakistan ties.

“Spoke to PM Nawaz Sharif & wished him on his birthday. Looking forward to meeting PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore today afternoon, where I will drop by on my way back to Delhi,” Mr Modi tweeted Friday afternoon, setting the cat among the pigeons. “That’s like a statesman. ‘Padosi se aise hi rishte hone chahiyen’ (This should be the relationship between neighbours),” echoed Ms Sushma Swaraj.

Prime Minister Modi later tweeted: “Am personally touched by Nawaz Sharif Sahab’s gesture of welcoming me at Lahore airport and coming to the airport when I left. Sharif’s affection towards Atalji is very touching. He recalled their interactions & asked me to convey his regards to Atalji. Spent a warm evening with the Sharif family at their family home. Nawaz Sahab’s birthday & granddaughter’s marriage made it a double celebration.”

MEA spokesman Vikas Swarup said the visit and talks were aimed at infusing a “positive spirit” in the region. Pakistan described Mr Modi’s stopover as a “goodwill visit” and said the two had discussed the comprehensive dialogue which both sides recently decided to start.

“The two leaders decided to take forward the dialogue process ... It was agreed that foreign secretaries will meet in Islamabad next month,” Pakistan’s foreign secretary said. Mr Chowdhury said the two PMs agreed to “open ways for peace and better atmosphere”, while understanding each other’s concerns. “Both Premiers want restoration of mutual confidence between the two countries. There is a need of enhancing cooperation between India and Pakistan so that poverty and other issues of South Asia should be addressed,” he said in Islamabad. Mr Chaudhry further said both PMs also agreed to enhance people-to-people contacts and to develop such an environment for the purpose. “Both leaders expressed their desire to carry forward the dialogue process for the larger good of the peoples of the two countries,” the Pakistani foreign office spokesperson said.

An NDTV report claimed industrialist Sajjan Jindal may have played a role in facilitating the meeting between the two PMs The Congress lashed out, claiming the visit was “pre-arranged” by a businessman who had a business partnership with the ruling establishment in Pakistan and was in Lahore for the past two days.

Mr Modi, wearing an off-white kurta, white pyjama and red waistcoat, extended birthday greetings to Mr Sharif, who wore a light blue shalwar kameez and dark blue waistcoat. He was also presented a bouquet by Mr Sharif. Mr Sharif’s brother, Punjab (Pakistan) CM Shahbaz Sharif and Pakistan finance minister Ishaq Dar were also present at Lahore airport. According to reports, Mr Modi presented a gift to Prime Minister Sharif’s grand-daughter on her wedding. Further, Mr Modi also reportedly gifted Indian shawls to the PM’s wife Kulsoom Nawaz.

Incidentally, December 25 also happened to be the birth anniversary of Pakistan’s founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah and it was also the 91st birthday of India’s former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee.The Pakistani authorities put security on high alert in the Lahore area, specially around the airport, following the announcement of Mr Modi’s brief visit. A heavy police and Pakistan Rangers contingent reached the Allama Iqbal International Airport and took charge of security.

A PML(N) source told news agencies that Mr Sharif had invited Mr Modi to attend the marriage of his grand-daughter Mehrun Nisa. The Pakistani police blocked all roads to Jati Umrah Raiwind for motorists and Rangers took over security control of the 400-acre residence of Mr Sharif. The 120-member panel accompanying Mr Modi travelled to Jati Umrah by road.

“Welcome to Pakistan @narendramodi. Constant engagement is the only way to resolve all outstanding issues,” PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted.