Nawaz Sharif Flaunts PM Modi’s Gift At Granddaughter’s Wedding

Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (MoS PMO) Jitendra Singh on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Lahore to meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif is a positive step forward as it has created a ground for further talks between the two neighbouring nations. He announced his visit plan through Twitter where he wished Sharif on his birthday along with informing that he would drop by to Lahore to meet Sharif on his way back to Delhi.

Mr Jindal was in Lahore when PM Modi landed there for stopover to see Mr Sharif. Modi was offered meals prepared in “desi ghee” with Kashmiri tea, mixed veg, kheer and palak paneer on the menu. “The most interesting fact was that when Prime Minister got out of the aircraft and the Pakistan media was running forward to cover him he along with Nawaz Sahab immediately boarded the helicopter and Pakistan media was not aware of anything”, the Minister said. Modi too showed warmth, also touched the feet of Nawaz Sharif’s mother taking her blessings. “Those parties which constantly try to politicise it need to reflect that when it is not a political platform, then why make an attempt to give it such a colour”, BJP leader Nalin Kohli said. While foreign minister Sushma Swaraj welcomed PM Modi’s announcement saying “That’s like a statesman”.

However, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif attended the meeting, Aziz said. “Padosi se aise hi rishte hone chahiyen (One should have such relations with neighbours)”.

“I think in the past there was a hesitation from Pakistan, understandably, to talk about terrorism [with India] but that may have changed”, the diplomat told Reuters.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Peoples Party and Awami National Party have welcomed the visit of Narendra Modi. Last time the process was scheduled to resume on August 25 previous year but India backed down resenting meeting of Pakistan High Commissioner to India with Kashmiri Hurriyat leader Sabir Shah.