Narendra Modi surprises world

Lahore : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday sprang a surprise with a 150-minute visit to Lahore where he greeted his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday and had talks during which they decided to open ways for peace for the "larger good" of the people of the two countries.

Injecting an element of drama into the see-saw Indo-Pak ties, Modi took the world by surprise by announcing in a tweet from Kabul that he will "drop by" in Lahore to greet Sharif on his 66th birthday on Friday. "Looking forward to meeting PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore today afternoon, where I will drop by on my way back to Delhi," he tweeted.

After Modi made a surprise stopover here on his way back home after a day-long unannounced visit to Afghanistan where he went after concluding a two-day trip to Russia on Thursday, the two leaders flew to Sharif's palatial residence of Jati Umra Raiwind, which is some 20 km from the airport, in a chopper making it the first time that any two leaders of the two countries were travelling together.

They spent about 80 minutes during which Modi greeted family members at the marriage function of Sharif's grand-daughter Mehrun Nisa (who is daughter of Mariam Nawaz Sharif) at the latter's Raiwind home. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and other Indian officials were also present. India's External Affairs Ministry Spokesman said the visit and the talks were aimed at infusing a "positive spirit" in the neighborhood.

Indian sources said the idea of a visit emanated from a conversation between the two prime ministers this morning when Modi called Sharif from Kabul to greet him on his 66th birthday.

Pakistan described Modi's stopover here as a "goodwill visit" and said the two leaders discussed about the comprehensive dialogue which the two countries have 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 Aizaz Ahmed Chowdhury. Chowdhury said the two premiers agreed to "open ways for peace and better atmosphere", while understanding each other's concerns.

"Both leaders expressed their desire to carry forward the dialogue process for larger good of peoples of the two countries," Spokesperson of Pakistan's Foreign Office said. "The two Prime Ministers agreed to continue and enhance contacts and work together to establish good neighborly relations," the spokesperson said in another tweet. Sharif received Modi and the two shared a warm embrace after the Indian leader emerged from his special aircraft at Allama Iqbal International Airport. He also saw Modi off at the airport.

The first visit by an Indian premier in nearly 12 years marked another step forward by the two countries in their efforts to put on an even keel their ties which was going through a chill until recently. The first visit by an Indian premier in nearly 12 years marked another step forward by the two countries in their efforts to put on an even keel their ties which was going through a chill until recently.

It also came more than two weeks after Modi and Sharif had an unscheduled meeting at climate change talks in Paris. The last visit to Pakistan by an Indian prime minister was in 2004 by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose 91st birthday fell today and who is credited with bringing about a thaw in relations with Islamabad "Prime Minister of Pakistan welcomed the initiative of the Prime Minister of India to visit Lahore," Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson said.

Modi attended a marriage function of Sharif's grand-daughter Mehrun Nisa((who is daughter of Mariam Nawaz Sharif) at the latter's Raiwind home. "Beyond the noise, a personal connect. The Prime Ministers discuss #IndiaPakistan relations in Raiwind," tweeted External Affairs Ministry spokesman."Family matters. PM visits PM Sharif's home in a special gesture, where his grand-daughter's wedding is being held," he said in another tweet.

Modi touches feet of Sharif’s mother

Sources said Pak PM Sharif's mother came to the hall where both premiers were holding the meeting along with his other family members. "Modi touched the feet of Sharif's mother," sources said.

Kabul to Delhi via Lahore Modi realises Manmohan’s dream

More than eight years after former PM Manmohan Singh spoke of his dream of having breakfast in India, lunch in Pakistan and dinner in Afghanistan, his successor Narendra Modi made it come true, albeit in reverse.

PM arranged surprise visit over phone

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arranged his surprise visit to Pakistan — the first by an Indian leader in a decade, at the last minute on Friday, a Pakistani official said. Modi phoned Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while on a visit to neighbouring Afghanistan and asked if he could make a stop in Pakistan on his way home, Pakistani foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry told media after Modi departed. “And the PM said to him, ‘Please come, you are our guest, please come and have tea with me’,” he said.