PM Modi returns home after concluding his three-nation tour

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, said the agreements had “laid the foundation” for a closer partnership between the two countries. On ISI-Pak Army, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “it will be a key factor as Pakistan’s foreign policy is handled by its Army and elements like terrorits, ISI and even Pakistani Army will never accept good relations between the two countries”.

Earlier, Modi hailed Vajpaye as a leader who distinguished himself in every role, while greeting him on his birthday.

It was a telephone call from Modi from Kabul greeting Sharif on his birthday which triggered the dramatic journey – his first to Pakistan and the first by any Indian prime minister in 11 years.

Modi’s visit was unannounced, and when Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif greeted him on the tarmac at the Lahore airport and the men embraced, it set tongues wagging in both countries.

Soon after his arrival, Modi flew to Sharif’s farmhouse in the suburbs of Lahore in a helicopter. Not long before the tweet, PM Modi had, addressing a joint session of the Afghan Parliament, appeared to send a strong message to Pakistan, without naming the country.

“All of us in the region – India, Pakistan, Iran and others – must unite, in trust and cooperation, behind this common objective and in recognition of our common destiny”. State-run Pakistani TV showed Modi being received by Sharif.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the last Indian Prime Minister to visit Pakistan who had visited Islamabad in January 2004 to attend the SAARC Summit besides holding talks with then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

As expected, on Friday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress Party reacted differently to the news of the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan meeting at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Airport. “But the two leaders are trying to establish a personal equation that can add momentum to the structured process of official talks in the future”.

“I can not confirm but there are chances that Modi goes to Raiwind and holds meeting with PM Sharif at his residence”, he said. However, India’s widely anticipated purchase of S-400 missiles – Russia’s most advanced anti-aircraft defence system – did not materialise.

Modi also made a veiled reference to Pakistan on the issue of cross-border terrorism in Afghanistan.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi listens to a speaker ahead of launching three new national social security schemes at a function in Kolkata May 9, 2015.

“We know that Afghanistan’s success will require the cooperation and support of each of its neighbours”.

The Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet next month to discuss modalities about the dialogue.