‘Start-up India’ Action Plan to be Unveiled on January 16: Prime Minister

The Foreign Secretaries of both countries will be meeting in Islamabad on January 15 to announce a roadmap for the new, “comprehensive dialogue” that the two nations have begun. We should remember: Although India and Pakistan are divided by boundaries, they have a common heritage, language and culture.

Former High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik said India has to show seriousness and willingness to resolve all outstanding issue.

“Modi has made clear he is willing to risk political capital to make peace”, the Indian Express newspaper said, warning that any future terrorist attacks traced to Pakistan would invite “savage criticism”. “The goodwill gesture by Modi will definitely break the ice in the relations between the two neighbours, a process started by the visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Pakistan”, the chief minister said late on Friday.

Promotion of good neighbourly relations with all neighbours is the policy of the incumbent government, said Aziz, adding “as this is a pre-requisite to benefit from projects aimed at increasing regional connectivity and resolution of energy crisis”.

Barring the Congress which questioned the suddenness of Modi’s move, the Indian leader’s two-hour halt in Lahore on his way home from Kabul has been widely welcomed. “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.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday said the journalists and dignitaries part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s entourage on his recent surprise visit to Pakistan were not allowed outside the Lahore airport.

“Modi’s unexpected visit to Lahore is a welcome development. I think the Prime Minister has in fact disappointed people and every ordinary citizen of this country”, said RJD leader Manoj Jha to ANI. According to various reports, the story goes that Modi accepted an invitation to visit Lahore after speaking with Sharif to wish him well on his birthday.

Initial optimism about a revival of ties was short-lived as the two countries traded heavy fire across their disputed border in the Himalayan territory of Kashmir which claimed dozens of lives on both sides.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the recently launched Accessible India programme to make transport, hospitals, school buildings, parkings and lifts disabled friendly.

Modi presented “sarees” and other gifts to Sharif on the occasion of the weeding of his granddaughter Mehrun Nisa (daughter of Mariam Nawaz Sharif), the source added.