Modi to meet PM Nawaz Sherif in Lahore

The leaders met briefly last month in Paris on the sidelines of the worldwide conference on climate change.

Sharif received Modi and the two shared a warm embrace after the Indian leader emerged from his special aircraft at Allama Iqbal International Airport. The visit coincides with Mr Sharif’s birthday and the wedding of his granddaughter.

Among the factors that may have prompted Modi to reach out is that Pakistan has a new national-security adviser, said Ashok Malik, a New Delhi-based political analyst.

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.

The two leaders agreed to accelerate talks on building a positive relationship, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said after the meeting.

Sharif, a former businessman, and the business-minded Modi reportedly share an interest in strengthening economic ties through means such as cross-border rail service.

He described Modi’s trip as a “good-will visit”, adding that both leaders agreed to try to move forward talks in a positive way.

Adil Najam, the dean of the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, said in an interview that there was a danger of overanalyzing the visit. “As we have long said, better relations between neighbours India and Pakistan will benefit the people of the entire region”, a State Department spokesman told Press Trust of India. He refused to share any details. But he shouldn’t forget to, metaphorically speaking, wish happy birthday to the other Sharif as well – General Raheel Sharif, who commands the Pakistan army and pulls the strings.

Both leaders wore their national dress and made their way to Sharif’s helicopter, which flew them to the Pakistani leader’s palatial residence south of the city.

Indians and Pakistanis shared their thoughts about the milestone visit on Twitter using the hashtag #BirthdayDiplomacy.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained over a series of cross-border firing incidents that both countries blamed on each other.

The year also saw India re-engaging with post-recession Europe, with Modi touring France and Germany in April and Britain in November.

Modi landed in Kabul after his visit to Russian Federation.

India’s main opposition Congress party, however, was quick to criticise Modi’s “irresponsible” decision.

“Heads of state don’t drop in to give Christmas or birthday greetings, particularly when you have such a history of complex issues between the two countries”. We would have welcomed it, ” Anand Sharma, a Congress Party spokesman said.

The Indian PM has also addressed the Afghanistan lawmakers during his visit.

India and Pakistan, home to 20 percent of the world’s population, will start a “comprehensive bilateral dialogue”, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on December 9 in Islamabad in a joint briefing with Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan’s de facto foreign minister. Raging violence in Kashmir has claimed tens of thousands of lives since 1989. He said Pakistan and India should also enhance contacts for peace in Afghanistan.