Sharif receives Modi in Lahore

Sushma Swaraj, Indian foreign minister, went to Pakistan this month – the first such visit in three years – after Mr Modi and Mr Sharif’s meeting in Paris.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, the top foreign ministry bureaucrat, later told a press conference that it was a “purely goodwill visit”.

Modi landed on Friday afternoon in the eastern city of Lahore and met with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, state-run media reported.

Modi, who was attired in off white kurta, white pyjama and red waistcoat, extended birthday greetings to Sharif, who wore light blue shalwar kameez and dark blue waistcoat.

Hailing Modi’s visit, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said the two neighbours needed to inject informality in their relations, as is the case in many places of the world like the European Union and ASEAN.

This is PM Modi’s first visit to Pakistan since taking office last year and the first visit to Pakistan by an Indian prime minister in 12 years.

The opposition Congress Party called Nr Modi’s visit irresponsible and said that nothing had changed to warrant warming of ties between the nuclear-armed rivals that only in August cancelled scheduled high-level talks after ceasefire violations across the border.

Without referring directly to Pakistan, India’s traditional rival in the region, Mr Modi said that some had seen “sinister designs in our presence” in Afghanistan. The 2 heads of presidency additionally had an unscheduled meeting at the Paris climate alter talks earlier this month.

“Both leaders agreed that it was extremely important that the leaders of both countries should understand each other’s point of view so that the doors of prosperity could open for their people”, Chaudhry said. “An industrialist who has a private business with ruling establishment in Pakistan is there already, so how is Prime Minister’s visit spontaneous?” he asked.

India had made it clear that the talks could be held only if they were confined to the issue of terrorism and also that then Pakistan NSA Sataj Aziz could not meet Hurriyet leaders while in Delhi.

“We do not have any issues with relations improving between India and Pakistan…”

Sharif’s sprawling residence had been colorfully decorated for his granddaughter’s wedding reception when Modi arrived along with the Pakistani prime minister.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, walks past an honour guard upon arrival at Moscow’s Government Vnukovo II Airport outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015.

India also wants Pakistan to bring to justice Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 168 people.